Psychophysical and Neural Mechanisms Contributing to Chronic Post-Surgical Pain in Adolescents and Adults
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
The current project will (1) enhance our understanding of the neurobiology of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP); (2) provide a metric to follow patients with CPSP in the clinic; (3) provide a metric for those who will chronify; and (4) understand the age-related differences in CPSP. Ultimately, an improved comprehension of mechanisms linked to CPSP will provide finer tools for optimizing the selection of treatments for individual patients. Moreover, data that demonstrates the underlying pathobiological pain mechanism(s) active in CPSP, particularly those non-responsive to current therapies, may be used to validate novel strategies both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: --Females and males aged 12 and older who have previously undergone surgery at least 6 months ago and have chronic post surgical pain (3 months after surgery or longer) Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to speak sufficient English or another language that can be interpreted orally and for questionnaires with the research team * Severe cognitive impairment by history (e.g., intellectual disability, severe head injury) * Patients with significant psychiatric disorders * Use of illegal hard drugs including MDMA, heroin, methamphetimes, amphetamines, cocaine, ketamine, benzodiazepines, and phencyclidine. Absence of such drugs will be confirmed in a urine drug screen during the visit. If prescription medication includes any of these compounds, that medication is not exclusionary.