Treatment for veterans with chronic pain and opioid use issues
Integrated Treatment for Veterans with Co-Occurring Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
This study is exploring a new way to help veterans who are dealing with chronic pain and issues with opioid use by combining two helpful therapies, and it aims to see how well this approach works over three months while they are on medication for their opioid dependence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10669722 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach for veterans suffering from chronic pain and opioid use disorder. It combines two evidence-based therapies: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps manage chronic pain, and Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention, which addresses substance use issues. The study will randomly assign participants to receive these integrated psychosocial treatments while they are on buprenorphine for opioid dependence. The effectiveness of this approach will be evaluated by measuring changes in pain interference and substance use after three months of treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are military veterans who experience chronic pain and are currently using buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have chronic pain or who are not dealing with opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide veterans with a comprehensive treatment option that effectively manages both chronic pain and opioid dependence.
How similar studies have performed: While integrated treatments for chronic pain and opioid use disorder are emerging, this specific approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in veterans.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Witkiewitz, Katie a — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Witkiewitz, Katie a
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 below.