Chronic Pain and Insomnia Research Study
Researchers at The University of South Florida are studying how to improve sleep and reduce opioid use in individuals with chronic pain.
Fast Facts
Ages 18+
Experiencing chronic pain and insomnia
Compensation Provided
Conducted in Tampa Bay Area (FL)
Study Background
Researchers at The University of South Florida are studying how to improve sleep and reduce opioid use in individuals with chronic pain.
People with long-lasting pain often have trouble sleeping, feel more alert, and show unusual brain activity when they feel pain. Studies show their brains react more strongly to pain compared to people without pain. Stopping opioid pain medications can be tough, especially when pain isn’t managed well. Research suggests that teaching better sleep habits can help with sleep, alertness, unusual brain activity, and pain for people who have both long-lasting pain and trouble sleeping. However, teaching better sleep habits doesn’t seem to reduce opioid use.
But because better sleep habits can improve each of the things we think might make it harder to stop using opioids, it’s worth seeing if it can help people slowly use less of these medications.
PI: Dr. Christina McCrae I Study ID: #5883
Study Background
Researchers at The University of South Florida are studying how to improve sleep and reduce opioid use in individuals with chronic pain.
People with long-lasting pain often have trouble sleeping, feel more alert, and show unusual brain activity when they feel pain. Studies show their brains react more strongly to pain compared to people without pain. Stopping opioid pain medications can be tough, especially when pain isn’t managed well. Research suggests that teaching better sleep habits can help with sleep, alertness, unusual brain activity, and pain for people who have both long-lasting pain and trouble sleeping. However, teaching better sleep habits doesn’t seem to reduce opioid use.
But because better sleep habits can improve each of the things we think might make it harder to stop using opioids, it’s worth seeing if it can help people slowly use less of these medications. This study aims to see if getting better sleep and feeling less alert will make brain activity more normal and reduce pain before people start using less opioids. This idea is based on a theory called CATS and what other studies have found.
PI: Dr. Christina McCrae I Study ID: #5883
Additional Information
The purpose of this study is to improve sleep and reduce the use of opioids in individuals with chronic pain.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18+ years old
- Chronic pain
- Chronic insomnia
- Prescribed opioid medication for 1 or more months, 3 or more times per week
- Desire to reduce or stop opioid use
- Written agreement from physician prescribing opioid medication
- No over-the-counter sleep medication for 1 month or more
- Stabilized on medications for 6 weeks or more
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Cognitve impairment
- Sleep disorder other than insomnia
- Certain physiological and psychological disorders
- Physcotropic or other medications that alter pain or sleep (e.g., SSRIs, morphine, melatonin)
- Participation in other non-pharmacological treatment for pain, sleep, or mood outside current trial
- Any limitations that would prevent you from safely undergoing an MRI scan, such as having non-removable metal objects in your body (braces, non-removable piercing, etc.) or experiencing claustrophobi
- Pregnancy, certain injuries, surgeries, diagnoses, or disorders
This study is broken out into 6 phases, involving assessments, treatment, tapering periods, and follow-ups. Please see the outline below for each phase:
- Baseline phase (fMRI, urinalysis, baseline questionnaires and assessments); treatment (eligibility and randomization into 8-week treatment) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
- Post-treatment (2-week administer questionnaires, assessments, and procedures from baseline) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
- Tapered-withdrawal phase (12-16 weeks of individualized tapering periods including bi-weekly 30-minute sessions with an interventionalist) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
- Post-withdrawal phase (2-week administer questionnaires, assessments, and procedures from baseline) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
- Booster calls (30-minute remote check-ins with the interventionalist) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
- 6-month follow-up post-treatment phase (2-week administer questionnaires, assessments, and procedures from baseline) (Earn $150 and receive a travel voucher after completion of this phase)
Compensation is provided up to $600 for your participation.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.
For further information, you can e-mail the study team at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu