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Intensive Treatment for Chronic Pain and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Registration Number
NCT01120067
Lead Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
Brief Summary

This study is investigating the efficacy of an intensive (3 week) integrated treatment for Veterans with both pain and PTSD.

Detailed Description

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an intensive integrated treatment for Veterans with comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A secondary objective is to examine potential mechanisms of action that might account for improvements in pain or PTSD. Third, exploratory analyses will be conducted to assess the relationship between participation in treatment and cognitive functioning. It is hypothesized that 1) participants receiving the intensive treatment (PT) will report significantly greater decreases in symptoms of pain and PTSD from pre-treatment to post-treatment when compared to participants randomized to a standard care (SC) condition, and 2) participants receiving PT will show greater maintenance of change on measures of pain and PTSD at 3 months following the completion of treatment when compared to participants randomized to the SC condition.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
23
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients will be eligible to participate if they have constant pain of at least three months duration with a neurologic or musculoskeletal etiology.
  • Patients must also meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with life threatening or acute physical illness, current alcohol or substance abuse, current psychosis or suicidal ideation, and individuals seeking pain treatment such as surgical interventions will be excluded.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
McGill Pain Questionnaire6 months

McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ; Melzack, 1975): is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 102 words separated into three major classes; the sensory, affective, and evaluative aspects of pain. Respondents are asked to circle the word that best describes their pain. The stability, reliability, and validity of the MPQ have been established (Reading, Everitt, \& Sledmere, 1982). The MPQ total score ranges from 0 to 78 with higher values indicating more significant pain.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT

🇺🇸

West Haven, Connecticut, United States

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
🇺🇸West Haven, Connecticut, United States

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