Preventing the Development of Chronic Pain: Treating PTSD at Acute Pain Onset

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
Rush University Medical Center
Study ID
NCT05700279
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 70 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Stellate Ganglion Block — PROCEDURE
    Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) procedure involves an injection of a local anesthetic (0.5% ropivacaine) around the stellate ganglion (a bundle of nerves located at the base of the neck) to block the transmission of pain signals. The SGB injection is administered by an anesthesiologist.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy — BEHAVIORAL
    Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a form of trauma-based talk therapy that will be conducted by clinical therapists. CPT can help people identify and challenge unhelpful trauma-related beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

Start date
Sep 1, 2023
Status verified
Oct 2025
Primary completion
Feb 1, 2027
Completion
Feb 1, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
345 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Stellate Ganglion Block Treatment
    Participants randomly assigned to the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) condition will receive 2 SGB treatments separated by 2 weeks.
  • Active Comparator: Cognitive Processing Therapy
    Participants randomly assigned to the Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) condition will receive 1-week massed CPT treatment consisting of 10 CPT sessions given within a single 5-day period via telehealth.
  • No Intervention: Usual Care
    Participants randomly assigned to the Usual Care condition will not receive any active intervention.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Intensity [ Time Frame: Through study completion, for an average of 6 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Rush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinois60612
John W Burns, PhD
[email protected]
312-942-0379

Find similar trials in Chicago, IL

By condition
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
By specialty
PsychiatryMental healthBehavioral health
By research site
Rush University Medical Center· Chicago, IL

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