Clinical Research Directory

Opioid Treatment and Peer Recovery Support

Determine whether a facilitated local change team intervention improves a probation organization's client-level medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) outcomes and implementation outcomes relative to baseline across multiple sites. Determine whether client-level outcomes are further enhanced by the introduction of Peer Support Services.

Encouraging Abstinence Behavior in a Drug Epidemic: Optimizing Dynamic Incentives

Combatting the rise of the opioid epidemic is a central challenge of U.S. health care policy. A promising approach for improving welfare and decreasing medical costs of people with substance abuse disorders is offering incentive payments for healthy behaviors. This approach, broadly known as "contingency management" in the medical literature, has repeatedly shown to be effective in treating substance abuse. However, the use of incentives by treatment facilities remains extremely low. Furthermore, it is not well understood how to design optimal incentives to treat opioid abuse. This project will conduct a randomized evaluation of two types of dynamically adjusting incentive schedules for people with opioid use disorders or cocaine use disorders: "escalating" schedules where incentive amounts increase with success to increase incentive power, and "de-escalating" schedules where incentive amounts decrease with success to improve incentive targeting. Both schemes are implemented with a novel "turnkey" mobile application, making them uniquely low-cost, low-hassle, and scalable. Effects will be measured on abstinence outcomes, including longest duration of abstinence and the percentage of negative drug tests. In combination with survey data, variation from the experiment will shed light on the barriers to abstinence more broadly and inform the understanding of optimal incentive design.

Evaluating Buprenorphine/Naloxone Microdosing vs. Standard Dosing in Emergency Departments

This is a multi-centre, open-label RCT at four Emergency Departments (EDs) in British Columbia and Alberta. The purpose of the current study is to compare the effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone microdosing and standard dosing take-home induction regimens at enabling patients to successfully complete the induction regimen, and at retaining patients on opioid agonist therapy. We will randomize our enrolled patients to receive take-home microdosing or standard dosing packages of buprenorphine/naloxone. For the microdosing arm, patients immediately start taking low doses that increase to effective levels without requiring them to go into withdrawal. We hypothesize that ED patients provided buprenorphine/naloxone microdosing packages will be more likely to successfully complete the induction period compare to patients provided standard dosing packages. We furthermore hypothesize that those provided microdosing will be more likely to be retained in opioid agonist therapy, and will experience lower overdose, mortality, and healthcare utilization subsequent to their ED visit.

Integrating Addiction Treatment and HIV Services Into Primary Care Clinics in Ukraine

A randomized controlled trial to: 1. To compare both primary (composite quality health indicator (QHI) scores) and secondary (individual HIV/methadone maintenance treatment (MMT)/TB/primary care QHI scores, quality of life, and stigma) outcomes in an anticipated 1,350 people who inject drugs (PWID) receiving MMT from 13 regions (clusters) and 39 clinical settings using a stratified, phase-in, controlled design over 24 months. After stratifying PWIDs based on their current receipt of MMT, they will be randomized to receive MMT in specialty addiction clinics (N=450) or in an ECHO-IC/QI-enhanced primary care clinic with (N=450) or without (N=450) pay for performance (P4P) incentives. 2. Using a multi-level implementation science framework, to examine the contribution of client, clinician and organizational factors that contribute to the comprehensive composite (primary outcome) and individual (secondary) QHI scores.

Physical Activity as Adjunct Treatment for Opioid Substitution Therapy

In terms of research, it is documented that exercise has a positive effect on mental disorders. Studies have shown positive correlations between physical and mental health, also among substance users. Such a study has never been performed on patients in opioid substitution therapy (OST). Documentation on the physical health of patients and the effect of exercise is very limited. Treatment of substance users is a research area with insufficient knowledge about certain treatment effects. It is important that a treatment can both support and promote the user's own resources and efforts to change their habits of substance use. The objective of this project is to examine the effect of exercise for OST patients, measured in relation to cognitive function and physical form. The target group consists of OST patients from 18 years of age and up, of both sexes, and on stable medication. At least 60 participants should complete the project, which is designed as a controlled randomized study (RCT). Participants in the intervention group start to exercise immediately after baseline testing. Participants in the control group are on a waiting list and will start to exercise after twelve weeks. Both groups undergo testing at baseline, after three, six and 12 months. Testing consists of two parts: A battery of cognitive and psychosocial assessments and an assessment of physical variables. The research questions of this project are important in a public health perspective. Generated knowledge can be quickly applied to local treatment institutions in Norway.

Recovery Management Checkups for Opioid Use Disorder Experiment

The experiment will be conducted in collaboration with 6 jails representing discrete geographic counties in Illinois and the opioid treatment providers (OTP) that serve them. It will compare a re-entry as usual control group with two experimental groups in terms of their impact on the OUD service cascade, as well as public health and public safety outcomes. Study recruitment sites are six jails that provide treatment with medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to inmates with OUD prior to their release. At the time of their release to the community, 750 men and women will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a) a re-entry as usual control, b) RMC with monthly checkups for 3 months post-release followed by quarterly checkups up to 2 years, or c) an adaptive version of RMC (RMC-A) that includes a modified checkup schedule based on each individual's pattern of treatment need. All participants will complete research interviews at release and quarterly thereafter up to 2 years post-enrollment.

Neuromodulation and Cognitive Training in Opioid Use Disorder

The relapsing nature of opioid use disorder is a major obstacle to successful treatment. About 90% of those entering treatment will relapse within one year. To improve treatment outcome, new interventions targeting the underlying brain biomarkers of relapse vulnerability hold significant promise in reducing this critical public health problem. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that can modulate brain connectivity.

Deep Brain Stimulation Effects In Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

This is a pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) as adjunctive treatment for treatment-refractory opioid use disorder. This study will include 3 individuals with opioid use disorder and relapsing opioid use despite active participation in a drug addiction treatment program.

Extended-Release Buprenorphine vs. Sublingual Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

The study is 12-week, randomized, open-label study comparing injectable extended-release buprenorphine (Sublocade) to standard therapy (sublingual buprenorphine), to see if Sublocade will be more helpful in treating opiate use for individuals testing positive for fentanyl and related high potency drugs (HPSO). Those receiving Sublocade will have it administered monthly and dosing will be according to the FDA prescribing instructions of 300mg for the first and second dose and 100mg for the third. Individuals receiving sublingual buprenorphine will receive standard dosing for the entire treatment trial. Participants will be asked to attend the clinic for the first 4 days during week 1 and twice weekly for the remainder of the trial.

Examining the Role of the Orexin System in Sleep and Stress in Persons With Opioid Use Disorder

This study is designed to elucidate the role of the orexin neurotransmitter system in sleep disturbance and circadian rhythms of stress that might in turn influence relapse behaviors in persons on medication-assisted treatments (MAT) who are in early recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). Briefly, the study will enroll recently abstinent OUD patients (N=200) maintained on either extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX), buprenorphine, or methadone. Within each MAT group, participants will be randomized to either suvorexant or placebo. The study is expected to have a 20% treatment attrition rate which will result in N=160 completers in the entire study. Patients will be recruited from and treated at Ashley Addiction Treatment, Addiction Treatment Services at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Man Alive, or community providers.

Promoting HIV Risk Reduction Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Stepped Care Approach Using Contingency Management With PrEP Adherence and Support Services

The proposed study will be a 24-week intervention with a 12-month follow-up period to evaluate the impact of contingency management with stepped care to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence and support services (CoMPASS) to promote HIV prevention among individuals with opioid use disorder who have injected drugs in their lifetime. In parallel, the investigators will conduct an implementation focused process evaluation to inform real-world implementation of CoMPASS. .

Pain, Inflammation and Opioid Craving

The goal of this study is to investigate the association between response to pain and opioid craving in people with opioid use disorder. In this study, adults with opioid use disorder will be randomized to one of two brief education sessions followed by an assessment of response to pain. Investigators will test the association between response to pain and opioid craving.

Project I Test: Implementing HIV Testing in Opioid Treatment Programs

This study will test two active evidence-based "practice coaching" (PC) interventions to improve opioid treatment programs' (OTPs') provision and sustained implementation of on-site 1) HIV testing and linkage to care and 2) HIV/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage to care among patients seeking/receiving substance use disorder treatment. Aims are: Aim 1: To evaluate the effectiveness of the PC interventions on improving patient uptake of HIV testing in OTPs including the incremental impact of the HIV/HCV intervention on HIV testing. Aim 2: To examine, using mixed-methods, the impact of the PC interventions on the initiation and sustained provision of HIV testing and timely linkage to care. Aim 3: To evaluate the health outcomes, health care utilization, and cost-effectiveness of the PC interventions compared incrementally to one another and to the control condition. Primary Hypothesis: 1. The two PC interventions will result in significantly higher proportions of patients tested for HIV than the information control condition during the "initial impact" period (7-12 months post-randomization or T3), controlling for the proportion of patients tested during the baseline period, T1 (Primary) and during the "sustained impact" period, 13-18 months post-randomization or T4 (Secondary). 2. The HIV/HCV PC intervention will result in significantly higher proportions of patients tested for HIV than the HIV PC intervention during the initial impact period (7-12 months post-randomization or T3), controlling for the proportion of patients tested during the baseline period, T1 (Secondary) and during the "sustained impact" period, 13-18 months post-randomization or T4 (Secondary).

Randomized Trial of ACT and a Care Management App in Primary Care-based Buprenorphine Treatment

The proposed IMPOWR Research Center at Montefiore-Einstein (IMPOWR-ME) will create a multidisciplinary and synergistic program of research to test multimodal treatments that address both chronic pain and opioid use disorder. IMPOWR-ME will generate critical knowledge about the effectiveness, implementation, and cost effectiveness of providing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and/or a care management smartphone app for individuals in primary care-based buprenorphine treatment. Patients with lived experience with chronic pain and/or opioid use disorder, patient and policy advocates, payors, and health system partners will be engaged in all stages of the research. IMPOWR-ME is well-positioned to become a long-lasting hub for stakeholder-engaged research with multidisciplinary senior and early stage investigators focused on reducing overdose through better treatments for OUD and CP.

Coaching Performance Driven Practice Change in the Context of Value Based Purchasing Under New York Medicaid

This project will develop and test quality measures for and a facilitation model to help addictions treatment clinics increase use of medicines for opioid use disorders, retain clients longer in care, and help more people move into successful recovery. At the end of the project, we will have developed specific training and coaching protocols as well as electronic clinical support tools to guide quality improvement that can be disseminated within New York and the rest of the country. The study will test a clinic-level intervention that uses external facilitators to provide guidance to addictions clinics and contain three key components: 1) training on data driven management; 2) training and guidance on patient-centered care and OUD medication; and 3) electronic tools for shared decision making and patient progress monitoring.

Coordinating Opioid Use Treatment Through Medical Management With Infection Treatment (Project COMMIT)

This study seeks to test a new model of care (ID/LAB) in which opioid use disorder (OUD) is managed by infectious disease (ID) specialists and hospitalists concurrent with management of the OUD-related infections, using long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAB), followed by referral as soon as possible after hospital discharge to community resources for long term treatment of OUD.

Effectiveness of a CBT-based mHealth Intervention Targeting MOUD Retention, Adherence, and Opioid Use

The focus of this study is to examine the effectiveness of imFREE relative to mHealth ED in facilitating treatment retention and adherence and reducing opioid use among adults with OUD initiating BUP treatment. There are two specific aims: (1) to test the effectiveness of imFREE, delivered in conjunction with medical management with buprenorphine (imFREE + MM), relative to mHealth ED + MM, in facilitating buprenorphine treatment retention and adherence in a population of individuals with OUD initiating MM (N=200). (2) To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of imFREE.

Implementation of STTR Strategies Among People Who Inject Drugs in Malaysia

This pragmatic, multisite, implementation and effectiveness research evaluates a strategy to improve HIV treatment outcomes (increased rates of patients on ART with virological suppression, improved treatment retention and ART adherence) for people living with HIV (PLWH) with opioid use disorder (OUD). Engaging 4 large regional HIV/AIDS treatment centers in Malaysia, the study will evaluate barriers and facilitators for implementation of improved care model and will evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the model in a clinical trial. The research will provide critically important evidence for implementation of effective Seek-Test-Treat, and Retain models for PLWH and OUD throughout Malaysia and inform healthcare policy in other low to middle income countries and regions with limited healthcare resources.

Exablate for LIFU Neuromodulation in Patients With Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and/or Other Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) using the Exablate® Model 4000 Type 2.0/2.1 as an adjunctive neuromodulatory treatment for OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) and/or other Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) by assessing its safety and tolerability in subjects with OUD.

Smartphones for Opiate Addiction Recovery

Treatments for opioid addiction exist, but effectiveness is compromised when subjects use illicit opiates during treatment. Reuse rates during treatment can be high, and reducing illicit opiate use during treatment has thus recently become a major NIDA policy goal. The 5-minute battery indicates the numerical probability that a patient will reuse illicit opiates within the next 7-10 days.

Culturally Centering Medications for Opioid Use Disorder With American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

This is a formative research study to test a culturally-centered, program-level implementation intervention to increase the use of medications for opioid use disorder in four healthcare and addiction specialty treatment sites serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD and Opioid Use Disorder

Among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), 90% report lifetime trauma exposure and 33% meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The co-occurrence of OUD and PTSD is associated with worse mental health and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) outcomes relative to either diagnosis alone. Prolonged exposure therapy (PET) is an efficacious cognitive-behavioral treatment for reducing PTSD severity. Although preliminary findings indicate that PET may reduce PTSD symptom severity among patients receiving treatment for concomitant OUD, it is unclear to what extent improvements were a function of PET versus the effects of OAT itself. Therefore, the question of whether OAT alone may attenuate PTSD symptoms in the absence of intensive cognitive-behavioral therapy remains unanswered. In this 12-week trial, we aim to investigate the contribution of PET above and beyond OAT alone for reducing PTSD symptoms among adults with concurrent PTSD and OUD. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: (a) OAT as usual, (b) OAT + PET, or (c) OAT + Enhanced PET (OAT+PET+). Those randomized to OAT as usual will continue to receive standard buprenorphine or methadone treatment from their current treatment provider and complete assessments of PTSD symptom severity, psychosocial functioning and drug use at intake and Study Weeks 4, 8, and 12. In addition to receiving OAT and completing monthly assessments, OAT+PET participants will receive PET consisting of 12 weekly, individual sessions with a trained therapist. Finally, OAT+PET+ participants will receive the procedures noted above for the OAT+PET group plus monetary incentives delivered contingent upon completion of PET sessions. Given the poor PET adherence rates reported among patients with substance use disorders, the use of incentives will ensure that we evaluate PET effects among patients who receive a sufficient dose of therapy. Prior to conducting the randomized trial, we will recruit and enroll participants in a small pilot study that will allow us to make necessary adjustments prior to the initiation of the main trial. An equal number of pilot participants will be randomized to receive one of the three experimental conditions. The proposed study design will permit us to disentangle the effects of PET from the effects of OAT alone while also including experimental conditions that reflect real-world practice. Taken together, this project will produce important new scientific and clinically-relevant information related to the mechanisms through which OAT and PET promote reductions in PTSD symptomatology in a highly vulnerable clinical population.

PRimary Care Opioid Use Disorders Treatment (PROUD) Trial

Effective treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs) requires medications. Two medications for treating OUDs-buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone-can be prescribed in primary care (PC). However, despite the current opioid epidemic and expert recommendations that OUDs should be treated in PC, most PC clinics do not offer treatment for OUDs. This reflects a lack of consensus among health system leaders and clinicians that OUDs should be treated in PC. The PRimary care Opioid Use Disorders treatment (PROUD) Trial is a pragmatic cluster-randomized, quality improvement trial that evaluates implementation of a team-based approach to PC supported by a full time nurse (the "PROUD intervention"). This type of team-based PC is often referred to as "collaborative care" for management of OUDs in PC, and this type of trial is often referred to as a Hybrid Type III implementation trial. The trial is being conducted in 6 diverse health systems spanning 5 states (New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Washington), with 2 PC clinics in each system randomized. One clinic is randomly selected to implement the PROUD intervention and the other continues usual PC (UPC). The overall objective of the PROUD trial is to provide information to guide health system leaders who are faced with the decision of whether or not to treat OUDs in PC, by evaluating the benefits of implementing the PROUD intervention that integrates high quality OUD treatment (i.e. buprenorphine or injectable naltrexone) into the normal flow of PC. The primary objective of the PROUD trial is to evaluate whether the PROUD intervention increases OUD treatment with buprenorphine or injectable naltrexone, documented in the electronic health records (EHRs) of PC patients, over a 2 year follow-up, as compared to UPC. The primary hypothesis is that there will be a significant increase in the number of patient-days of medication treatment for OUDs documented in the EHR of PC patients in the 2 years after clinics are randomized to the PROUD intervention compared to PC clinics randomized to UPC. This implementation objective reflects whether the PROUD intervention increases initiation of and/or retention in OUD treatment, documented in EHRs within medical settings. The main secondary objective is to test the hypothesis that PC patients with OUDs documented in their EHRs in the 3 years prior to randomization who receive care in PROUD intervention clinics, compared to those who receive care in UPC clinics, will have fewer days of acute care utilization (including urgent care, emergency department \[ED\] and hospital care) in the 2 years after randomization. This effectiveness objective assesses whether implementation of the MA Model improves patient outcomes.

INTEGRA: A Vanguard Study of Health Service Delivery in a Mobile Health Delivery Unit

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of using a mobile health delivery unit ("mobile unit") to deliver "one stop" integrated health services - particularly medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and medication for HIV treatment and prevention - to people who inject drugs (PWID) with opioid use disorder (OUD) to improve uptake and use of MOUD, and uptake and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).