Brain scans reveal why quitting smoking hurts more for chronic pain sufferers
NCT ID NCT06983678
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at how quitting smoking temporarily increases pain in people with chronic pain, and how the brain processes this. Researchers will use brain scans and daily reports from 132 smokers—some with chronic back pain, some without—to understand these changes. The goal is to find ways to help people with chronic pain quit smoking more successfully.
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 successful, this research could guide the development of better smoking-cessation programs tailored for people with chronic pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not directly lead to new therapies, and results may not apply to all smokers with chronic pain.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Duke North Pavilion
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
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