Understanding Smoking Withdrawal and Pain in People Who Smoke
This study is looking at how stopping smoking affects pain and brain activity in people who smoke, especially those with chronic pain. We know that people with chronic pain often find it harder to quit smoking, partly because withdrawal can make pain worse. This research will use fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), a type of brain scan, to see how the brain processes pain when someone has been smoking as usual compared to when they have not smoked for 24 hours. The goal is to understand these brain changes better, which could help develop new ways to support people with chronic pain to quit smoking. We are looking for 132 participants, aged 21-65, who smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day and either have chronic non-cancer low back pain or no history of chronic pain. The study's success will be measured by changes in pain intensity ratings and specific brain activity during the fMRI sessions. The current recruitment status is unclear.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 132 participants. It uses a crossover design where each participant experiences both 'smoking as usual' and 'abstinent' conditions.
- What's involved
- You will complete an initial screening, a sensory training session, and two fMRI brain scan sessions. You will also use a smartphone app for daily assessments and have biochemical tests to confirm abstinence.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Not specified.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Neural Correlates and Behavioral Impact of Withdrawal-induced Hyperalgesia Among People Who Smoke With and Without Chronic Pain
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Maggie Sweitzer, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Duke University
Who to contact
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What this trial measures
- Pain intensity ratings to high heat vs neutral temperaturesMeasured at each fMRI session (up to 1.5 hours)
Participants will rate their current pain intensity following each of the heat stimulus blocks during the fMRI scans. Pain intensity is measured on a 0-10 visual analogue scale, with higher scores indicating greater pain.
- Activation of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)Measured at each fMRI session (up to 1.5 hours)
% signal change in response to the contrast of high heat vs rest will be extracted from right and left IFG
- Resting state functional connectivity with the IFGMeasured at each fMRI session (up to 1.5 hours)
Fisher-Z transformed correlation maps of connectivity with the IFG will be evaluated within a subcortical mask including the caudate and thalamus
- Time to lapseMeasured daily during the 1-week abstinence test
The number of days of continuous, biochemically verified abstinence prior to smoking
- Daily pain ratingsMeasured with daily EMA prompts for 10 days
Mean pain ratings during the initial days of abstinence will be examined as a function of chronic pain status, assessed at baseline
- Daily withdrawal symptomsMeasured with daily EMA prompts for 10 days
Daily withdrawal symptoms will be assessed over EMA using the Minnesota Smoking Withdrawal Scale. Mean withdrawal symptoms during the initial days of abstinence will be examined as a function of chronic pain status, assessed at baseline
- Fluctuations in pain ratings vs smoking urgeMeasured 5 times per day with random EMA prompts for 10 days
Fluctuations in pain ratings will be examined to determine their association with level of smoking urge
- Fluctuations in pain ratings vs number of cigarettes smokedMeasured 5 times per day with random EMA prompts for 10 days
Fluctuations in pain ratings will be examined to determine their association with number of cigarettes smoked between each assessment.