Cannabinoids and an anti-inflammatory diet for the treatment of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (The CATNP Study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Study design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of cannabinoids and an anti-inflammatory diet, alone and in combination, for the management of neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Two Canadian SCI rehabilitation centers.

Methods: A sample of 144 individuals with SCI will receive either an anti-inflammatory diet, cannabinoids or a placebo for 6 weeks. Following this, a combined effect of these treatments will be evaluated for a further 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the change in NP as assessed by the numeric rating scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes will include changes in inflammation, mood, sleep, spasticity, cost-effectiveness, and function.

Conclusion: This study will assess the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory diet and cannabinoids (individually and in combination) for the treatment of NP following SCI. Results may reveal a cost-effective, side-effect free intervention strategy which could be utilized for the long-term management of NP following SCI.