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Scientists map the daily rhythms of chronic pain

NCT ID NCT07820475

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Minnesota Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
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Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers at the University of Minnesota are studying why chronic pain varies so much from person to person. The study enrolls 400 adults with chronic low back pain or spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain. Participants answer brief surveys four times a day for at least three weeks and wear a Fitbit, while researchers analyze pain, stress, sleep, mood and body awareness to find patterns linked to pain interference.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If the patterns hold, this could help doctors predict whose pain will flare and point toward more personalized ways to manage chronic pain.
What could go wrong
This is an observational study, so it cannot prove cause and effect. Findings from 400 adults may not apply to everyone with chronic pain, and self-reported surveys can be inconsistent.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 400 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Oct 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Sep 2031

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Adults with chronic low back pain and adults with spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain will be recruited nationwide for this remote observational study. Participants will be 18 years or older, medically stable, fluent in English, and have pain severity of at least 4 out of 10 over the past week. Participants will complete baseline assessments and intensive longitudinal data collection using ecological momentary assessment surveys, brief cognitive tests, and passive Fitbit data collection.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Chronic low back pain for more than 3 months, or complete or incomplete spinal cord injury for more than 1 year with spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain * Medically stable * Pain severity of at least 4 out of 10 on the numeric pain rating scale over the past week * Fluent in English * Access to the internet and a computer, iPad, or smartphone; study equipment may be provided if needed * Currently on stable pain medication or manual therapy appointments as part of clinical care Exclusion Criteria: * Cognitive impairment or communicative disability preventing the participant from following directions * Major medical complications * Pregnancy * Current active treatments that could potentially influence SERENITY outcomes, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or Qigong * Children * Prisoners * Adults lacking capacity to consent or adults with diminished or fluctuating capacity to consent * Non-English speakers * Individuals unable to read * Employees of the researcher * Students of the researcher * Active members of the military or DoD personnel

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Chronic Pain chronic pain syndrome neuralgia spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Chronic low-back pain Chronic pain Neuropathic pain Pain interference Spinal cord injury

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

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