Study of Brain Processes in Pain Avoidance Learning in Adults with Opioid Use Disorder Compared to Healthy Controls

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to understand how the brain processes pain avoidance learning in people with opioid use disorder OUD compared to healthy individuals. It focuses on whether those with OUD have trouble learning to avoid pain and how brain activity relates to this difficulty and predicts future opioid use or relapse. The study investigates how avoidance learning dysfunction contributes to the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with OUD. Participants will perform a learning task inside an fMRI scanner to study brain activity linked to avoiding pain and seeking rewards. The study includes individuals with moderate to severe OUD, regular opioid users not seeking treatment, and healthy controls with matched demographics. After the initial assessment, individuals with OUD will be followed up with interviews for 12 months to track opioid use and potential relapse. Participants undergo clinical assessments and complete the learning task during the imaging session. Researchers will collect brain scans, physiological data, and clinical information to analyze avoidance learning and brain function. Follow-up interviews over a year will monitor opioid use changes among those with OUD. The main outcomes include measurements of avoidance learning, brain activity during the task, and opioid use during follow-up, with additional comparisons between men and women.

Opioid Use Disorder and Pain