NCT03418129

Brief Summary

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic pain are common and serious health problems for military veterans and often co-occur, leading to poor post-deployment adjustment. Pharmacological treatments for pain elevate risk of opioid abuse, and research suggests veterans perceive barriers to existing non-pharmacological, clinic-based treatments. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop pain management approaches that are effective, overcome barriers to care, and are readily usable by Veterans. Evidence suggests that neuromodulatory treatments, grounded in understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms of pain, reduce pain-related symptoms and have the potential to be developed into self-directed treatments through use of mobile technology.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
254

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable chronic-pain

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2018

Longer than P75 for not_applicable chronic-pain

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 3, 2017

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 1, 2018

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 5, 2018

Completed
3.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 26, 2022

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 26, 2022

Completed
11 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

July 27, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

July 27, 2023

Status Verified

July 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

3.7 years

First QC Date

November 3, 2017

Results QC Date

May 2, 2023

Last Update Submit

July 6, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

Military Veterans

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Self-reported Pain Intensity

    Measured by the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS), a graphic tool to facilitate self-reported pain rating using a scale from 0-10, 0 being "no pain" to 10 being "as bad as it could be, nothing else matters."

    Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in EEG Alpha Power

    0 and 12 weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Self-reported Pain Intensity

    Baseline and 24 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Mobile App Mindfulness

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants engage in the use of a mobile application on an iPod Touch for a minimum of 10 minutes a day, 4 days a week for a total of 12 weeks.

Device: Mindfulness

Mobile App Neurofeedback

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants engage in use of a mobile application on an iPod Touch for a minimum of 10 minutes a day, 4 days a week for a total of 12 weeks.

Device: Neurofeedback

Mobile App Relaxation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants engage in use of a mobile application on an iPod Touch for a minimum of 10 minutes a day, 4 days a week for a total of 12 weeks.

Device: Relaxation

Interventions

Neuromodulatory intervention for pain management

Mobile App Mindfulness

Neuromodulatory intervention for pain management

Mobile App Neurofeedback

Neuromodulatory intervention for pain management

Mobile App Relaxation

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Served in one of the military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard) since October 2001.
  • Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), defined as a traumatically induced structural injury or physiological disruption of brain function, as a result of an external force, that is indicated by new or onset or worsening of at least one of the following signs immediately following the event:
  • Any alteration in mental status (e.g. confusion, disorientation, slowed thinking, etc.)
  • Any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the injury.
  • Any period of loss or a decreased level of consciousness, observed or self-reported.

You may not qualify if:

  • History of epilepsy, seizure disorder, or any seizure or epileptic fit.
  • Unable to provide informed consent.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry

Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic PainBrain Injuries, TraumaticStress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Interventions

Neurofeedback

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBrain InjuriesBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesCraniocerebral TraumaTrauma, Nervous SystemWounds and InjuriesStress Disorders, TraumaticTrauma and Stressor Related DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Biofeedback, PsychologyMind-Body TherapiesComplementary TherapiesTherapeuticsBehavior TherapyPsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesFeedback, Psychological

Limitations and Caveats

Due to the COVID pandemic, EEG measurement was discontinued March 2020. As a result, although all available data are provided, less than half the sample had EEG data collected and therefore analyses of this outcome measure were not powered according to original power estimates. Consequently, there can be very limited interpretation of this data.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Eric Elbogen, Ph.D.
Organization
Duke University

Study Officials

  • Eric Elbogen, PhD

    Duke University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 2017

First Posted

February 1, 2018

Study Start

September 5, 2018

Primary Completion

May 26, 2022

Study Completion

August 26, 2022

Last Updated

July 27, 2023

Results First Posted

July 27, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Per FITBIR (Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research) policy on Data Sharing, we will submit all de-identified data to FITBIR after the completion of the study. All data are submitted in accord with applicable laws and regulations, and that the identities of research participants will not be disclosed to the FITBIR Informatics System. FITBIR Data Sharing Policy includes steps to protect the interests and privacy concerns of individuals, families, and identifiable groups who participate in TBI genetic and other research.

Time Frame
A contribution will be submitted after study completion and will remain in the FITBIR database indefinitely.
Access Criteria
Only individuals with a FITBIR account who have submitted a Data Access Request that has been reviewed by the Data Access Quality Committee will be able to view the data.
More information

Locations