Chronic Pain Diagnosis and Treatment in Torture Survivors

ID#: NCT04629963

Age: 18 years - 66+

Gender: All

Healthy Subjects: No

Study Phase: N/A

Recruitment Status: Recruiting

Start Date: January 14, 2021

End Date: October 31, 2024

Contact Information:
Gunisha Kaur, MA, MD
(212) 746-2461
Michele Steinkamp, RN
2127462953
Summary: The goal Aim 1 of this investigation is to characterize the diagnosis of chronic pain in torture survivors. The investigators hypothesize that using a validated pain screen to supplement the existing United Nations Istanbul Protocol can improve the ability to detect pain from 15% to 90% in this study population. Investigators will test this hypothesis by conducting a prospective, blind comparison to gold standard study. The goal of Aim 2 is to evaluate the acceptability of somatic pain treatment using qualitative interviews of torture survivors. The goal of Aim 3 is to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants in a digital pain program over six months.
Eligibility: (Aim 1)

Inclusion Criteria:

- ≥ 18 years old

- Survived torture as defined by the World Medical Association

- Consented to being contacted by our research team

Exclusion Criteria:

- Non-tortured refugees seeking asylum through T visas (trafficking), U visas (victims of violence in the US), Violence Against Women Act (VAMA), and Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ)

- Pregnant women (Aim 2)

Inclusion Criteria:

- ≥ 18 years old

- Survived torture as defined by the World Medical Association

- Chronic pain as per Aim 1 findings

Exclusion Criteria:

- Non-tortured refugees seeking asylum through T visas (trafficking), U visas (victims of violence in the US), Violence Against Women Act (VAMA), and Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ)

- Pregnant women (Aim 3): Inclusion Criteria

- ≥ 18 years old

- Survived torture as defined by the World Medical Association

- Chronic pain as per Aim 1 findings

- Personal smartphone Exclusion Criteria

- Non-tortured refugees seeking asylum through T visas (trafficking), U visas (victims of violence in the US), Violence Against Women Act (VAMA), and Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ)

- Pregnant women

- Planned move within 6 months