|

Focused Ultrasound for the Complex Patient

RECRUITINGN/ASponsored by Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Actively Recruiting
PhaseN/A
SponsorWashington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Started2024-04-29
Est. completion2025-09-30
Eligibility
Age18 Years – 75 Years
Healthy vol.Accepted
Locations1 site

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to to inhibit the anterior insula (AI) with low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to determine the causal role for the AI in pain processing, anxiety, and opiate cue-induced craving. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * the safety and tolerability of LIFU delivered bilaterally to AI compared to sham stimulation in individuals with opiate use disorder (OUD), anxiety, and chronic back pain * the effects of LIFU vs sham on measures of pain processing, anxiety symptoms, and opiate cue-induced craving Participants will undergo anatomical MRI, neurological assessment, clinical assessment and patient query to assess the safety and tolerability of LIFU vs sham.

Eligibility

Age: 18 Years – 75 YearsHealthy volunteers accepted
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females aged 18-75 years
2. Current diagnosis of Chronic Back Pain as defined by pain duration of at least three months, with back pain being an ongoing problem for at least half the days of the last six months.
3. Have evidence of central sensitization (CS) as measured by the Widespread Pain/Symptom Severity Index (WPSSI) with a score of Widespread Pain Index (WPI) ≥ 7 and Symptom Severity (SS) ≥ 5 or WPI = 3-6 and SS ≥ 9.
4. Participants must rate pain intensity at 4/10 or greater on the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF)
5. Meet the DSM-5 criteria for current opiate use disorder as diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
6. Be in treatment for OUD including buprenorphine or methadone.
7. Meet the DSM-5 criteria for a current anxiety disorder: generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or social anxiety disorder as diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of neuropathic pain
2. Current DSM-5 substance use disorder other than OUD, tobacco use disorder
3. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder
4. Pregnant or breastfeeding
5. Daily use of benzodiazepines or opiates (other than buprenorphine or methadone)
6. History of seizures, neurologic disorders, including cerebrovascular disease, history of stroke, brain surgery, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, or neurodegenerative diseases. They will not have history of metastasizing cancers, inflammatory disorder: rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, lupus or polymyositis, unintended weight loss of 20 pounds or more in the last year, or cauda equina syndrome.
7. Ferromagnetic implants or other contraindications for MRI
8. Unstable medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, unstable angina, poorly controlled arrhythmia active systemic infection end stage renal disease.

Conditions3

AnxietyChronic Back PainOpioid Use Disorder

Locations1 site

Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20422
Mary R Lee, MD(202) 745-8000mary.lee3@va.gov

Browse More Trials

Trial data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial status and eligibility can change — verify directly with the study contact or on ClinicalTrials.gov.

This site does not provide medical advice. Always consult your doctor before considering enrollment in a clinical trial. Learn more on our About page.