Understanding pain and distress in people living with HIV and developing coping strategies.
Official title: Psychosocial distress, inflammatory reactivity and central sensitization in the pathway to HIV-related pain: characterizing the associations and developing a pragmatic, coping-focused intervention.
Funded at University of Cape Town · NIH-10610321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cape Town NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rondebosch, South Africa) |
| Project start | July 27, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $98,612 |
| NIH project number | 5K43TW011442-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10610321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who experience chronic pain and psychosocial distress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV or do not experience pain related to their condition may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: Previous research has shown promise in addressing chronic pain through psychosocial interventions, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Madden, Victoria Joy — University of Cape Town
- Study coordinator: Madden, Victoria Joy
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.