Neurobiological roots of pain catastrophizing in burn survivors and how CBT may change them
Official title: Neurobiology of Pain Catastrophizing in Burn Survivors: Identification and Targeting of a Critical Treatment Mechanism
Funded at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · NIH-11384029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re looking at how painful burn injuries and the way people think about pain affect one another, and how cognitive-behavioral therapy might change the brain to reduce chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $732,927 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AT013875-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) with burn injuries experiencing chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic pain after burns or those not willing to participate in brain-imaging or CBT components may not benefit.
What this research studies
Burn survivors often suffer long-lasting pain after injury and care. This project will examine how brain processing of catastrophizing thoughts relates to ongoing pain and how CBT might alter those brain pathways. The study aims to identify brain signals that link negative thinking about pain with worse outcomes and test whether CBT can modulate this neural activity to improve pain. Findings could lead to more personalized therapies for chronic pain after burns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective, brain-based pain treatments tailored for burn survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest cognitive-behavioral approaches help reduce pain and catastrophizing, with plausible neural mechanisms, but this project seeks direct biomarkers in burn survivors.
Where this research is happening
-
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Napadow, Vitaly — Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Study coordinator: Napadow, Vitaly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.