Abstract
Background: The United States is experiencing an interrelated public health crisis, involving the management of chronic pain and the risks associated with opioid misuse. As millions of individuals suffer with chronic pain and as opioid misuse and overdose deaths continue to escalate, the need to advance evidenced-based harm reduction research in this area is critical. Methods: We developed the Integrated Psychosocial Group Treatment (IPGT) protocol, which is a harm reduction treatment targeting psychosocial factors for chronic pain patients at risk for opioid misuse. The objective of this study is to examine feasibility; acceptability; and preliminary efficacy. Chronic pain patients at risk for opioid misuse (N=30) will be randomized to either IPGT or treatment as usual (TAU). Outcome variables will be collected at pre and post-treatment (6 weeks), in addition to a follow up (9 weeks). We hypothesize that the application of IPGT will cause a reduction in opioid misuse, enhanced knowledge of overdose education and naloxone distribution, and improved pain severity, interference, and pain catastrophizing. Discussion: This study will provide initial support for IPGT as being acceptable and feasible for delivery in chronic pain patients at risk for opioid misuse in addition to preliminary efficacy. Findings will provide greater insight into strategies that address this health crisis and given the current epidemic in conjunction with the lack of literature, this research is urgently needed. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03648177. Registered 27 August 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03648177
Elevated Pain Sensitivity in Chronic Pain Patients at Risk for Opioid Misuse