Current Research Studies: Pain Management

The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is currently conducting the following studies in pain management:

• Cognitive Testing of the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS)
• Telephone Intervention for Pain

Cognitive Testing of the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS):

The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is critically testing and improving the Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) in order to increase its content validity and utility for understanding the impact of pain treatments on pain qualities.

The PQAS scale assesses the different characteristics of pain a person may experience. Participants with either musculoskeletal or neuropathic chronic pain complete a research measure, provide information regarding the different characteristics of the pain they experience, and provide feedback about the scale itself.

For further information on this project please contact Kevin Gertz, Project Manager, at (206) 616-9058 or (800) 377-9707, or at painstdy@u.washington.edu.

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Telephone Intervention for Pain

Researchers in the departments of Orthopedics, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington are seeking study participants in a project investigating treatment for pain related to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and amputation.

Treatment interventions focusing on providing education about chronic pain and how to change how a person thinks about and copes with his/her pain have been used to treat chronic pain in the general population. The purpose of this study is to see if these treatments delivered over the telephone can benefit persons with disabilities. Specifically, we want to determine if these treatments can help reduce the negative consequences that pain often causes in terms of a person's mood, daily activities, and enjoyment of life.

We are also interested in finding out if these treatments decrease a person's pain. Subjects will participate in eight 60-minute treatment sessions performed over the telephone by one of the study’s clinicians. Subjects will also participate in telephone interviews before, during, and after treatment sessions. Participation in the study will last approximately 13 months. Compensation for completion of the telephone interviews is provided.

To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years of age, have moderate to severe chronic pain, be able to communicate over the telephone, and be able to speak, read and understand English.

For more information, please contact Telephone Intervention for Pain Study (TIPS) staff at (206) 616-9058 or 1 (866) 928-2104 or email painstdy@u.washington.edu. Please remember that we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information sent by e-mail.

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