Can Therapy Alter CNS Processing of Chronic Pain: A Longitudinal Study

Can Therapy Alter CNS Processing of Chronic Pain: A Longitudinal Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a psycho-therapeutic approach, group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) plus a relapse prevention program, Therapeutic Interactive Voice Response (TIVR), modifies the dysfunctional sensory, emotional, and cognitive neural circuitry associated with chronic pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 12 months of muscular-skeletal, non-neuropathic pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• Malignancy causing or influencing chronic pain
• Radiation or chemotherapy, or metastatic cancer of any type
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and/or neuropathic pain
• Neurological disorders such as epilepsy or stroke, or other medical conditions
• Psychiatric disorders
• Opioid medication use for pain management
• Past year history of illicit drug use that can result in altered cognition
• Pregnancy
• Exceeding weight limit of the MRI scanner
• Incompatible implants due to MRI safety
• Awaiting pain related surgical procedure
• Involved in pain-related litigation