study overview
The purpose of this study is to evaluate chronic pain therapy for employed individuals with physical disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, limb loss or amputation, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. Increasing our understanding of the effectiveness of this intervention may help to improve treatments for people with chronic pain in the future.
Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent, disabling, and persistent symptoms associated with physical disabilities. One-half to two-thirds of adults with various physical conditions experience chronic pain. In addition to being associated with disability, depression, sleep disruption, and physical inactivity, chronic pain has negative effects including job loss and reliance on long-term disability programs.
What do I have to do?
- Staff will randomly assign participants to either (1) intervention or (2) usual care.
- Participants will complete four online surveys before, during, and after treatment.
- Participants randomized to the intervention group will attend eight weekly therapy sessions via telephone plus a “booster” after treatment ends.
- Participants randomized to the usual care group will not participate in the telephone therapy. Instead, they will continue their regular care. The study staff will offer participants the intervention at the end of the treatment period.
- All study procedures take place online or on the phone — no in-person visits are required.
- Up to $125 total compensation provided.
to be eligible, one must
- be 18 years of age or older
- have multiple sclerosis, limb loss or amputation, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury
- be currently employed
- experience chronic pain
- have daily access to a phone and the Internet
Contact
For more information, contact study staff at tipsstudy@uw.edu or (206) 668-8566.
Study information
Dawn Ehde, Ph.D. is the lead investigator of this study, which the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) funds. Find additional study detail at ClinicalTrials.gov.
