Understanding pain and distress in people living with HIV and developing coping strategies.

Psychosocial distress, inflammatory reactivity and central sensitization in the pathway to HIV-related pain: characterizing the associations and developing a pragmatic, coping-focused intervention.

NIH-funded research University of Cape Town · NIH-10610321

This study is looking at how stress and inflammation affect chronic pain in people with HIV, and it aims to create helpful coping strategies that can be used in places with fewer resources, so that patients can feel better and improve their quality of life.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Cape Town NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Rondebosch, South Africa)
Project IDNIH-10610321 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the connections between psychosocial distress, inflammation, and chronic pain in individuals living with HIV. It aims to develop effective coping-focused interventions that can be implemented in resource-limited settings. The approach includes interdisciplinary training and community-based research to better understand how psychological and immunological factors contribute to pain. By focusing on these aspects, the research seeks to create scalable treatments that can improve the quality of life for patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who experience chronic pain and psychosocial distress.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have HIV or do not experience pain related to their condition may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, effective strategies for managing pain and distress in individuals living with HIV.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in addressing chronic pain through psychosocial interventions, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Rondebosch, South Africa

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.