A program to prevent chronic pain and reduce opioid use after surgery

Preventing Chronic Post-Surgical Pain and Prolonged Opioid Use: The Perioperative Pain Self-Management Program

NIH-funded research Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-10923831

This study is testing a new program that helps patients manage their pain before and after surgery using helpful mental strategies, like talking through their feelings, to make recovery easier and reduce the need for strong pain medications.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Iowa City, United States)
Project IDNIH-10923831 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates a new program designed to help patients manage pain before and after surgery, focusing on psychological strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). By addressing psychological distress before surgery, the program aims to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain and reduce the need for long-term opioid use. Patients will be randomly assigned to either this new pain self-management program or standard care to evaluate its effectiveness. The goal is to enhance overall recovery and improve quality of life for surgical patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients scheduled for surgery who may be at risk for developing chronic pain or prolonged opioid use.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those with established chronic pain may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of chronic pain and the reliance on opioids after surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that psychological interventions like CBT can be effective in managing pain, suggesting potential success for this preventive approach.

Where this research is happening

Iowa City, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.