Opioid Use Disorder and Pain: Brain Processes of Pain Avoidance Learning and 12-Month Follow-Up of Opioid Use

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how brain processes related to pain avoidance learning may be different in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to healthy people. The study explores whether those with OUD have trouble learning to avoid pain and how this relates to their brain activity. It also aims to find out if these brain processes can predict future opioid use or relapse in people with OUD. Participants include individuals diagnosed with OUD who are seeking treatment, regular opioid users not seeking treatment, and healthy controls matched by age, sex, race, and education. Participants will perform a learning task inside an fMRI scanner to assess avoidance and reward learning through a probabilistic go/no-go task involving cues to avoid electric shocks or gain rewards. The study includes a 12-month follow-up period for those with OUD to monitor opioid use and relapse. During the study, participants undergo clinical assessments, neuroimaging, and physiological recordings on the first day. The primary outcomes measured include avoidance learning performance, brain activity during the learning task, and opioid use over the 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes compare learning and brain activity differences between women and men. Participants must be physically healthy and able to complete study tasks, with safety monitoring such as MRI compatibility checks. The total participation period includes initial testing and one year of follow-up for opioid use monitoring.

Opioid Use Disorder and Pain