Focused Ultrasound for the Complex Patient

Description

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.

Conditions

Opioid Use Disorder, Chronic Back Pain, Anxiety

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

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.

Towards Treatment of the Complex Patient: Investigations of Low-intensity Focused Ultrasound

Focused Ultrasound for the Complex Patient

Condition
Opioid Use Disorder
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Washington

Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20422

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

  • 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).
  • 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.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center,

Mary R Lee, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2025-09-30