Pilot Testing of a Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain in Individuals With HIV

Chronic pain is a chronic condition with a unique neurobiologic basis, which has a
substantial impact on physical and emotional function. Chronic pain in HIV-infected patients
is common, and associated with serious health consequences, including up to 10 times greater
odds of impaired physical function. Many pharmacologic therapies, including opioids, often do
not lead to improved pain and function, and carry significant risk. Evidence-based behavioral
interventions are among the most effective and safe non-pharmacologic chronic pain treatments
investigated in the general medical population. Therefore, behavioral interventions to
improve pain, physical, and emotional function in HIV-infected patients are needed. There is
much to be learned from existing interventions. However, the success of a behavioral
intervention is heavily influenced by how well it is tailored to the target population's
biological, psychological, and social environment. Therefore, in this study investigators
will conduct a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial of a recently-developed behavioral
intervention compared to routine HIV and pain care, to determine feasibility, acceptability,
and preliminary impact.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Enrolled in the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems
(CNICS) cohort

2. Age ≥ 18 years

3. Chronic pain (Brief Chronic Pain Screening Questionnaire (BCPQ) = at least moderate
pain for at least 3 months)

4. Moderately severe and impairing chronic pain (PEG pain questionnaire = average of all
three times is 4 or greater)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Do not speak or understand English

2. Are planning a new pain treatment like surgery

3. Cannot attend the group sessions.