Understanding Self-Awareness in Opioid Addiction

Neurocircuitry of clinical insight predicting relapse outcomes in opioid addiction

NIH-funded research State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-10868724

This project aims to understand how a person's self-awareness about their opioid addiction connects to their ability to stay in treatment and avoid relapse.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stony Brook, United States)
Project IDNIH-10868724 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people with opioid addiction may not fully recognize the severity of their illness or their need for ongoing treatment, which can make it harder to stay sober. This project explores how this self-awareness, or "insight," is linked to brain activity. We want to see if understanding a person's insight and brain patterns can help us predict who might struggle with relapse or treatment adherence. The goal is to find new ways to support individuals in their recovery journey by identifying early markers for success or challenges.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are individuals recently detoxified and currently receiving medication for opioid use disorder, primarily those whose primary drug was heroin, as well as healthy volunteers.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently in treatment for opioid use disorder or who do not meet the specific criteria for recent detoxification and medication maintenance may not directly benefit from this particular research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to identify individuals at higher risk of relapse and develop more personalized treatment strategies for opioid use disorder.

How similar studies have performed: This is described as the first systematic investigation of insight and its underlying neural circuitry as predictors of relapse and treatment adherence in opioid use disorder, suggesting a novel approach in this specific area.

Where this research is happening

Stony Brook, 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.
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.