Stress and Pain in People Living With HIV

Launched by YALE UNIVERSITY · Jan 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the relationship between stress, pain, and various health issues in people living with HIV, particularly those who may also struggle with depression and cannabis use disorder. The trial involves four groups of participants: those with HIV and cannabis use disorder, those with HIV but without cannabis use disorder, those with cannabis use disorder but without HIV, and healthy individuals without either condition. Participants will take part in two sessions of a specific test designed to assess how stress affects pain and then follow up on their mood and drug use.

To be eligible, participants must be generally healthy and able to read and understand English. For those living with HIV, they should have an undetectable viral load and be following their treatment plan. Other groups have specific criteria related to their HIV status and whether they have cannabis use disorder or depression. Throughout the study, participants can expect to complete assessments and discuss their experiences with stress and pain. It's important to note that individuals with certain serious mental health or medical conditions, or those who are pregnant or nursing, cannot participate in this trial.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • good health as verified by screening examination
• • Able to read English and complete study evaluations and provide informed written and verbal consent. Additional criteria PLWH
• • HIV-1 lab test positive
• • undetectable viral load
• • good ART adherence
• Additional criteria by group:
• PLWH +CM:
• • CB positive urine toxicology
• • meet DSM-5 criteria for CUD and MDD as assessed using SCID-I. HC
• • HIV-1 test negative
• • urine toxicology negative
• • no major medical and psychiatric diagnoses based on DSM-V.
• PLWH Only:
• • HIV-1 test positive
• • urine toxicology negative
• • no major medical and psychiatric diagnoses based on DSM-V.
• CM Only:
• • HIV-1 test negative
• • urine toxicology positive
• • meet DSM-5 criteria for CUD and MDD as assessed using SCID-I
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • meet primary, current moderate and severe criteria for other SUD including cocaine, alcohol, opiates, sedatives, nicotine
• • current use or past history of cocaine or opioid use disorder
• • history of any psychotic disorder
• • current diagnoses of bipolar disorder and PTSD
• • psychotic or otherwise severely psychiatrically disabled (i.e., suicidal, homicidal, current mania)
• • significant underlying medical conditions such as cerebral, renal, thyroid or cardiac pathology that would interfere with study participation
• • medications with known central effects on HPA axis and cytokines/immune function
• • women who are pregnant, nursing or those using hormonal birth control that affect HPA axis cortisol responses.