Chronic Pain Clinical Trials

The purpose of this randomized pragmatic trial is to assess the effect of monthly booster contacts on long-term Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (BCBT-CP) pain outcomes compared to BCBT-CP without a booster in 716 Military Health Systems (MHS) beneficiaries referred to a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for pain management using BCBT-CP. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either standard BCBT-CP (working with a BHC in the medical home clinic) or standard BCBT-CP with adjunctive monthly booster contacts. Additionally, patient participants and clinic providers and staff will be offered the opportunity to participate in separate post-treatment Focus Groups using a semi-structured interview format designed to assess the usability, ease of use, perceived effectiveness, helpfulness, and barriers to the pain management intervention. Patient participants will be assessed 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-Months following their first appointment for BCBT-CP. Read Less

This is an open-label, single center design. In the first stage, five (5) healthy individuals will receive a microdose (10µg) of [11C]-NOP46, immediately followed by whole body positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) to determine dosimetry and perform an initial safety evaluation of the radiotracer. If no toxicities develop, then the investigation will move to the second stage, in which thirty (30) patients with chronic pain will receive a microdose of [11C]-NOP46 followed by PET/CT of region of interests. Read Less

Study investigating the potential benefit for chronic pain patients (CRPS and FM) using low-intensity focused ultrasound for neuromodulation. Read Less

The EPPIC (Easing Pelvic Pain Interventions Clinical Research Program) study evaluates an ultra-brief, 4 session cognitive behavioral pain treatment transdiagnostic in design for urologic chronic pain syndrome (UCPPS) with clinical and practical advantages over existing behavioral therapies whose length and focus limits their adoption by clinicians and coverage for mechanistically similar comorbidities. A theoretically informed, practical, empirically grounded approach will systematically unpack CBT's working mechanisms, clarify for whom it works, ease dissemination, appeal to patients, providers, payers, and policy makers in the COVID-19 era favoring low resource intensity treatments, and reduce cost and inefficiencies associated with high intensity therapies whose complexity, length, and scarcity restricts uptake and impact. Read Less

The goal in this study is to investigate TEST (Transcranial Electric Stimulation Therapy) for chronic pain. It requires an inpatient stay on our research unit of about a month. The study is designed to address the cognitive and emotional aspects of chronic pain and other conditions that often accompany this disorder, such as major depression or drug use. Read Less

Herbal Medicine is known as the medicinal use of herbal substances as a means of treating different conditions in the human body to ensure that the body remains in optimal health and wellness. These substances are known to contain very active ingredients in it and as such is also a very potent means of managing diseases and ailments in the body. Herbal medicine has always been a standby source of getting relief from various conditions over centuries, however, it can be categorically said that the mode of usage of these herbal substances has changed over time. Traditional healers help individuals to make meaning out of the natural herbs seen around that can be useful to one's health. Herbal medicine is the use of plants to treat disease and enhance general health and wellbeing. Herbs can interact with other pharmaceutical medications and should be taken with care. Always seek a regular medical doctor (GP) about any health concerns and tell them about any herbal medicines you are taking or thinking of taking. Never stop taking prescribed medications in favor of herbs without first discussing it with your GP. Read Less

Although most people recover from acute pain (such as pain caused by injury, surgery, repetitive motion, or unknown causes), many people do not fully recover and will experience chronic pain. Untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to be a key risk factor for the transition from acute pain to chronic pain. However, few published studies have addressed the issue of preventing the transition from acute to chronic pain via PTSD reduction. This project will aim to test whether trauma-related PTSD symptoms can be reduced using either Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) treatment or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and whether reducing PTSD symptoms can prevent the transition from non-injury based acute pain to chronic pain. Read Less

Multiple site studies with the recruitment of other sub-investigators and sites. It's sobering to consider how chronic illness makes us more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts and behavior. However, the existence of multiple risk factors also means that there are numerous ways to intervene. Addressing and improving even one risk area will reverberate and improve other areas and the quality of life. RIVER Foundation is completing a 500-participant pilot study researching the safety of oral and nasal ketamine at home with no therapy. The pilot study examined three psychological scales: P.H.Q. 9, G.A.D. 7, and PCL5 scores. The interim report will be available in Nov 2023 with a final report in June 2024. The lack of knowledge for the average medical practitioner makes ketamine a boutique medicine, often costly and unaffordable to those in need. Yet daily medical providers are eliminating ketamine as a choice in the treatment of chronic conditions. The pilot study demonstrated the who, and where. The who, was adults with a chronic condition. The pilot study demonstrated the majority of those who could use ketamine are not receiving it due to cost. According to the 500-participant study, ketamine is safe and effective for at-home use thus demonstrating the where (at home with no supervision). Read Less

The investigators propose to conduct a dose-escalation trial of an FDA-approved antiepileptic drug, lacosamide, added to opioid therapy in patients with chronic abdominal pain from chronic pancreatitis (CP). This pilot trial will test the feasibility of the study design and provide reassurance regarding the tolerability and safety of lacosamide used concomitantly with opioids in this patient population to reduce the condition known clinically as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Read Less

This study will evaluate a new form of non-invasive deep brain therapy for individuals with generalized chronic pain. Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation will first be delivered using a range of stimulation parameters during psychophysical and physiological monitoring. A well-tolerated stimulation protocol will be selected for subsequent testing in a blinded randomized sham-controlled cross-over trial. The trial will evaluate brain target engagement using magnetic resonance imaging and CVAS and PROMIS numerical rating scales of pain. Read Less

The proposed research is a single arm feasibility trial of pain rehabilitation virtual reality (PRVR) aimed at measuring feasibility, acceptability and utility of VR as well as changes in physical function and fear for adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The intervention includes standard physiotherapy treatment including functional goal setting and progressive exercise. Read Less

The investigators aim to determine whether cervical paravertebral muscle twitching during motor testing as part of performing cervical RFAs is associated with a greater likelihood of treatment success, and greater magnitude or duration of analgesia. The investigators propose a straightforward grading scale based on visual and tactile information readily available during RFA procedures as part of routine practice (per radiofrequency electrode: 0 = no twitches palpated or observed; 1 = twitches palpated but not observed; 2 = twitches palpated and observed at 1-2 levels; 3= twitches palpated and observed at >2 levels). If a higher weighted score (total score divided by number of radiofrequency lesion sites) correlates with a greater likelihood of treatment success, or magnitude or duration of analgesia following cervical RFA, cervical paraspinal muscle twitching may serve as a readily obtainable prognostic factor (marker) for effectiveness. Read Less