RCT of tDCS-Augmented CBT for Veterans with Pain and Opioid Misuse

描述（由申请人提供）：慢性腰痛（CLBP）是退伍军人中最常见的疼痛状况，与VA诊所中高水平的阿片类镇痛药处方有关。虽然处方类阿片对急性疼痛有效，但没有证据支持其长期有效性，而且它们与成瘾、转移、过量和死亡风险增加有关。在慢性疼痛的非药物治疗方面存在着实质性的差距，并且很少有科学证据可以指导cre的提供。认知行为疗法（CBT）是最广泛使用的非药物治疗疼痛；然而，当单独使用时，它对疼痛的影响不大。增强CBT的有效性和持久性对于为数百万患有慢性疼痛的退伍军人提供可行的非药物治疗选择至关重要。经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）是一种新颖的微创脑刺激技术，当应用于背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）时显示出镇痛效果。从我们小组和其他人积累的数据表明，tDCS可能会增强CBT对慢性疼痛的治疗效果。然而，迄今为止还没有研究直接调查联合这些疗法的潜在协同效应。本研究通过测试tDCS联合CBT减轻美国退伍军人疼痛和阿片类药物使用严重程度的可行性和初步疗效，直接解决了文献中的这一空白，这些退伍军人曾在持久自由行动、伊拉克自由行动或新黎明行动（OEF/OIF/OND）中服役，目前患有CLBP和合病处方阿片类药物使用障碍。tDCS可以启动和调节前额叶回路，从而增强忍受和下调疼痛体验的情感成分的能力，而CBT可以教授维持这些收益所需的技能，从而产生协同效应。的主要目标

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most common pain condition among returning Veterans and is associated with high levels of opioid analgesic prescribing in VA clinics. Although prescription opioids are effective for acute pain, evidence does not support their long-term effectiveness and they are associated with increased risk of addiction, diversion, overdose and death. Substantial gaps in the non-pharmacologic treatment of chronic pain exist and there is little scientific evidence available to guide the provision of cre. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most widely used non-pharmacologic treatment for pain; however, its effects on pain are modest when used in isolation. Enhancing the effectiveness and durability of CBT is critical to providing a viable non-pharmacologic treatment option to the millions of Veterans suffering from chronic pain. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a novel, minimally-invasive brain stimulation technique that demonstrates analgesic effects when applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Accumulating data from our group and others suggest that tDCS may augment the treatment effects of CBT for chronic pain. However, no studies to date have directly investigated potential synergistic effects of combining these therapies. The proposed study directly addresses this gap in the literature by testing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of tDCS in combination with CBT to reduce pain and opioid use severity among U.S. military Veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) and have current CLBP and co-morbid prescription opioid use disorders. tDCS may prime and modulate prefrontal circuitry resulting in enhanced capacity to tolerate and down-regulate the emotional component of pain experience, while CBT can teach the skills necessary to maintain these gains, thus resulting in a synergistic effect. The primary objective of the proposed Stage II study is to evaluate the effects of CBT in combination with tDCS in (1) improving pain and functionality, (2) reducing severity of opioid use disorders, and (3) reducing impairment in associated mental health areas (e.g., other substance and prescription drug use, depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep). To accomplish this we are: using a manualized, evidence-based CBT intervention; employing a randomized between-groups, double-blind experimental design (CBT + tDCS vs. CBT + sham tDCS); and examining standardized, repeated dependent measures of change at 5 time points (pre- and post-treatment; 1, 3 and 6 month follow-up). This project is directly responsive to the mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in that it seeks to accelerate clinical trial research on non-pharmacologic approaches to manage pain and comorbid conditions. The findings of this study will provide empirical evidence to inform polices and programs to better serve the needs of U.S. military personnel and Veterans.