How short-term smoking abstinence changes brain pain processing in people who smoke with or without chronic low back pain

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Adults who smoke (with chronic non-cancer low back pain or without chronic pain) will complete sensory training and two fMRI sessions in a within-subject crossover design: one after 24 hours of abstinence and one after smoking as usual. During each scan participants receive painful heat stimuli and provide pain ratings while craving, withdrawal, and physiological measures are recorded. After scanning participants install EMA software on their smartphone, complete baseline ecological momentary assessments, and then attempt to abstain while continuing EMA with biochemical verification. The study compares brain activation and behavioral responses across smoking and abstinent conditions to see if withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia interferes with quit attempts.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. History of chronic non-cancer low back pain with duration ≥ 6 months OR no history of chronic pain;
2. age 21-65;
3. smoking of at least 10 cig/day for \> 2 years;
4. have an iPhone or Android smartphone capable of running the EMA software

Exclusion Criteria:

1. pain complaint specifically due to cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or complex regional pain syndrome;
2. actively taking steps to quit smoking;
3. inability to attend all required experimental sessions;
4. significant health problems, such as chronic hypertension, emphysema, seizure disorder, history of significant heart problems;
5. conditions that would make MRI scanning unsafe (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia)
6. use of opioids within the past 90 days
7. past year alcohol or substance use disorder
8. positive urine test for illegal drugs (other than marijuana);
9. daily use of alcohol or marijuana;
10. lifetime history of psychotic disorder, or current unstable psychiatric disorder;
11. regular use of non-cigarette tobacco products or electronic cigarettes;
12. major surgery within the past 6 months or planned surgery within the timeframe of the study;
13. breath alcohol level \> 0.0 (participants failing for BAL will be allowed to rescreen once);
14. recently quit smoking for \> 3 days;
15. pregnancy or planning to become pregnant;
16. any factors that at the discretion of the investigators would adversely affect the participant or integrity of the study (e.g., ongoing legal action or disability claim regarding pain, uncontrolled psychiatric disorder, head/neck injury, use of certain medications)

Where it's running

• Duke North Pavilion
  Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Maggie Sweitzer, Ph.D. — Duke University
• Study coordinator: Clinical Research Coordinator
• Email: sweitzerlab@duke.edu
• Phone: 919-907-9955

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.