National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Pain Management Collaboratory Receives Funding to Expand Non-Drug Pain Treatment Research

6 months ago

• The Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center at Yale has received a six-year funding extension to continue its research on non-drug approaches for pain management. • The center's research focuses on veterans and active-duty military members, exploring treatments like chiropractic care, mindfulness, and physical therapy for pain and related conditions. • The collaboratory aims to bridge the gap between evidence-based nonpharmacological approaches and their limited use in routine clinical care, promoting access to high-quality pain care. • Studies involve over 11,000 veterans and military personnel, with the goal of expanding effective pain management strategies to broader populations.

NIH Collaboratory Adds APA-SM Trial to Evaluate Acupressure for Chronic Pain Management

7 months ago

• The NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory welcomes the APA-SM trial, focusing on personalized auricular point acupressure for chronic pain self-management in rural areas. • The APA-SM trial will conduct a pragmatic study of a 4-week auricular point acupressure intervention in rural Texas and South Carolina. • Primary outcomes include pain intensity, pain interference, and function, with secondary outcomes assessing implementation, cost-effectiveness, and predictive factors. • Funded by the NIH HEAL Initiative, APA-SM aims to reduce opioid prescribing through effective pain management strategies.

Spanish-Language Substance Use Prevention Program Shows Promise in Pediatric Care

7 months ago

• A virtual Spanish-language adaptation of the Guiding Good Choices program, named Guiando Buenas Decisiones, demonstrates feasibility and acceptability within pediatric primary care settings. • Qualitative interviews with pediatricians and parents in 2020 and 2021 support the integration of the program into trusted healthcare environments. • Offering such programs in primary care settings may reduce stigma and enhance sustainable funding for preventive interventions. • The Guiando Buenas Decisiones program is part of the larger GGC4H trial, which assesses the effectiveness of implementing substance use prevention programs within healthcare systems.

Pain Relief Mechanisms Differ Between Sexes, Impacting Opioid Efficacy

7 months ago

• A new study reveals that men and women utilize different biological systems for pain relief, with men relying on endogenous opioids and women using non-opioid pathways. • The research indicates that blocking the opioid system with naloxone inhibits meditation-based pain relief in men but enhances it in women, highlighting sex-specific responses. • Findings suggest that women's poorer response to opioid therapies may contribute to higher rates of dependence, as they may require higher doses for pain relief. • Tailoring pain treatment to an individual’s sex may improve patient outcomes and reduce reliance on opioids, especially for chronic pain management.

NIH HEAL Initiative Funds Pragmatic Trials for Non-Opioid Pain Management

9 months ago

• The NIH HEAL Initiative is funding pragmatic clinical trials focused on non-opioid pain management within the NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory. • The trials will study non-opioid approaches, including complementary and integrative methods, for managing pain and comorbid conditions in veterans and military personnel. • Supported projects will generate data, tools, and best practices to facilitate research partnerships within healthcare systems serving veterans and military families. • The application deadline for this funding opportunity, which involves multiple NIH institutes, is November 7, 2024.