Clinical Research Directory

Virtual Reality Treatment for Adults With Chronic Back Pain (VRNT)

Participants with chronic back pain will complete an online Qualtrics eligibility survey. After signing a consent form, eligible participants enter a two-week baseline period ("Baseline Period"), during which they complete two assessments of the Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures and Potential Mediators. After the baseline period, participants are randomized into a Virtual Reality group: VR Distraction-based Therapy or VR Skills-based Therapy, with a 1:1 allocation ratio of participants to each treatment. Both groups receive education on pain neuroscience and complete training on the use of the VR hardware and software. Next, both groups complete an intervention for 8 weeks ("Treatment Period"), after which they return the VR equipment. Several surveys are administered online during the Treatment Period. After the Treatment Period, both groups complete three post-treatment surveys at weeks 8, 20, and 32.

Active Coping: Interdisciplinary Program for Chronic Pain, Physiotherapy Unit (Spain)

The goal of this observational intervention study is to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary active coping program for chronic back pain in adults referred from Primary Care to the Physiotherapy Unit of Teruel Ensanche. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the program improve physical function, measured through gait speed, balance, and chair stand tests? * Does it reduce pain-related psychological factors such as kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression? * Does it improve quality of life and sleep quality, and reduce analgesic medication use? Participants will attend group sessions on pain neuroscience education, followed by sessions on healthy habits, nutrition and sleep hygiene and group psychological intervention focused on emotional wellbeing tools, and will complete therapeutic exercise sessions over the course of the program. They will also complete validated questionnaires and physical assessments at three timepoints: at baseline, at the end of the program, and at a 6-month follow-up.

Assessing Spinal Pain With an Artificial Intelligence-assisted Whole Body Electrical Stimulation Device

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the correlation between self-reported pain and the measurements obtained using an artificial intelligence-assisted whole-body electrical stimulation device (StimaWELL 120MTRS system) in individuals with chronic back pain. The main question it aims to answer is: Is there any correlation between the pain intensity assessed with StimaWELL 120MTRS system, dolorimeter and self-report in adults with chronic back pain? The patients who have back pain for the duration longer than 3 months and have been eximaned by a medical doctor will be assessed with StimaWELL 120MTRS system, dolorimeter, and will be asked to rate their pain intensity in Numerical Pain Rating Scale.

Effect of Sedation After Ultrasound-Guided Spinal Anesthesia on Back Pain

This study will evaluate whether giving sedation before spinal anesthesia, when performed with ultrasound guidance, reduces the risk of developing back pain after surgery. Spinal anesthesia is commonly used but may cause discomfort or persistent back pain in some patients. By comparing standard techniques, ultrasound guidance, and sedation, we aim to find safer and more comfortable approaches for patients undergoing non-obstetric surgery.

MOTIVATE to Improve Outcomes for Older Veterans With Musculoskeletal Pain and Depression

The proposed study seeks to evaluate effectiveness, implementation processes, and cost of MOTIVATE among older Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and comorbid depressive symptoms.

The Effect of Yoga Practice on Chronic Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is notoriously difficult to treat and is a primary contributor to lost work days and excessive health expenditures, and whose treatment has, in part, contributed to the opioid crisis. Surgery is only an option in a minority of these patients, usually confined to those with structural instability. Yoga is an ancient modality whose benefits are currently being studied.

Healing Track Clinical Trial

This is a randomized clinical trial to evaluate a digital pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) intervention for chronic back pain (CBP). The purpose of this research is to test whether a new digital treatment for chronic pain works as well as traditional treatments for chronic back pain (CBP). Some people with CBP experienced side effects from other treatments, or previous treatments did not relieve pain, so this research aims to see if a digital therapy is a better option for CBP. This study will assess changes in pain intensity from PRT intervention compared to a standard of care (SOC) control group in adults with CBP. SOC is defined as a comprehensive clinical care plan, including a consultation with physiatrist and prescribed interventions, which will capture a comparison representative of all potential interventions that are recommended for an individual. The research team plans to enroll 180 participants who will be randomized into one of three groups.

Behavioral and Cognitive Predictors of Persistent Pain and Opioid Misuse in Chronic Pain

Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) affects approximately 20% of the global population. The study objective is to determine if impulsivity, inhibitory control, drug choice, and/or cognitive distortions predict opioid misuse and disability in patients with chronic pain. This is a prospective consented cross-sectional study characterizing behavioral and cognitive phenotypes using both patient-reported survey measures and cognitive testing. Outcome measures include correlations between impulsivity measures, opioid drug choice responses and cognitive distortion scores, and risk for opioid misuse (Primary outcomes: COMM scores, SOAPPR scores). Secondary outcomes is BPI measurement. A Certificate of Confidentiality will provide additional protections for participants.

Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Chronic Pain: High Resolution Targeting of The Human Insula

In this study, the research team will use low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to temporarily change brain activity in a brain region that is known to be involved in chronic pain. Through this, the research team hopes to learn about how the brain area works in response to pain. There are main questions this study aims to answer: * The effect of LIFU to inhibit the posterior region of the insula (PI) compared to sham stimulation in individuals with chronic back pain (CBP) and widespread pain symptoms. * The effect of LIFU to PI compared to sham stimulation to reduce pain intensity and magnitude of the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS) in response to evoked thermal pain. * The effect of LIFU to PI compared to sham stimulation to reduce pain intensity and magnitude of Tonic Pain Signature in response to tonic pain.

Focused Ultrasound for the Complex Patient

The goal of this clinical trial is to to inhibit the anterior insula (AI) with low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to determine the causal role for the AI in pain processing, anxiety, and opiate cue-induced craving. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * the safety and tolerability of LIFU delivered bilaterally to AI compared to sham stimulation in individuals with opiate use disorder (OUD), anxiety, and chronic back pain * the effects of LIFU vs sham on measures of pain processing, anxiety symptoms, and opiate cue-induced craving Participants will undergo anatomical MRI, neurological assessment, clinical assessment and patient query to assess the safety and tolerability of LIFU vs sham.