How chronic jaw (TMD) pain affects drinking habits

Effects of Pain on Laboratory Drinking Topography and Daily Drinking in People with Chronic TMD Pain

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11196720

This project looks at whether chronic jaw pain changes how adults who drink heavily sip and drink alcohol in the lab and during daily life.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11196720 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be part of a group of adults who drink heavily, some with chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain and some without. In lab sessions researchers will measure the fine details of how you drink (for example sip size and speed) while manipulating or recording pain, and you will also report pain and drinking using a phone app during your everyday life. The study uses drinking-topography tools in controlled lab visits plus ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture real-world drinking and pain episodes. Data from both settings will be compared to see whether pain changes drinking patterns.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults age 21 and older who drink heavily, especially those who have chronic TMD (jaw) pain, are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People under 21, those who do not drink heavily, or those without chronic jaw pain are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify whether and how chronic jaw pain drives heavy drinking and help guide better pain and alcohol treatment approaches.

How similar studies have performed: Drinking-topography and EMA methods have been used successfully before, but applying them specifically to chronic TMD pain and heavy drinking is relatively new and not well studied.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, 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.
Conditions Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
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.