Psychophysical and Neural Mechanisms Contributing to Chronic Post-Surgical Pain in Adolescents and Adults

Description

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.

Conditions

Chronic Post-surgical Pain

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

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.

Psychophysical and Neural Mechanisms Contributing to Chronic Post-Surgical Pain in Adolescents and Adults

Psychophysical and Neural Mechanisms Contributing to Chronic Post-Surgical Pain in Adolescents and Adults

Condition
Chronic Post-surgical Pain
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility 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.

Ages Eligible for Study

12 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts General Hospital,

Christine B. Sieberg, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Record Dates

2026-06-30