Perioperative Cognitive Training in Thoracic Surgery

Perioperative Cognitive Flexibility Training for the Prevention of Persistent Pain After Thoracic Surgery

More than 30% of patients undergoing thoracic surgical procedures develop persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP), which results in impaired functioning, diminished quality of life, and increased risk of chronic opioid use. The proposed project aims to determine whether a prospective, randomized, controlled study of smartphone-based perioperative cognitive flexibility training will reduce the incidence of PPSP in high-risk individuals undergoing thoracic surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults age 18 to 75 undergoing thoracic surgery
• Access to an active email account
• Score <50th percentile on Color Word Matching Stroop Test (CWMST) normalized T-score

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to complete cognitive testing
• Color blindness assessed via self-report
• Participants who do not speak or read English

The inclusion criteria for the observational cohort will be the same, with the exception of Score ≥50th percentile on Color Word Matching Stroop Test (CWMST) normalized T-score.