Compounds of formula (I): wherein A, B and D are each C, N, O or S; E is C or N; the dotted circle within the five-membered ring indicates that the ring may be unsaturated or partially saturated; R1 is halogen, hydroxy, C1-6 alkyl, haloC1-6 alkyl, hydroxyC1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, halo C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxyC1-6 alkoxy, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C3-5 cycloalkylC1-4 alkyl, NR7R8, C1-6 alkyl substituted with NR7R8, C,1-6 alkoxy substituted with NR7R8, oxo, cyano, SO2NR7R8, CONR7R8, NHCOR9 or NHSO2R9; R2 is halogen, hydroxy, C1-6 alkyl, halo C1-6 alkyl, hydroxyC1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, halo C1-6 alkoxy, hydroxyC1-6 alkoxy, C 3-7 cycloalkyl, C3-5 cycloalkylC1-4 alkyl, NR7R8, C1-6 alkyl substituted with NR7R8, C1-6, alkoxy substituted with NR7R8, cyano, SON2R7R8, CONR7R8, NHCOR9, or NHSO2R9; R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen, C1-6, alkyl, phenyl or halophenyl; R5 and R6 are, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, phenyl, halophenyl or carboxy; X is an oxygen or sulfur atom; Y is an aryl, heteroaryl, carbocyclyl or fused-carbocyclyl group; n is either zero or an integer from 1 to 3; p is either zero or an integer from, 1 to 4; and q is either zero or an integer from 1 to 3; the other substituents are defined in claim 1; are useful as therapeutic compounds, particularly in the treatment of pain and other conditions ameliorated by the modulation of the function of the vanilloid-1 receptor (VR1).