A Behavioral Intervention for Pain Catastrophizing in Primary Dysmenorrhea

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Primary Dysmenorrhea

Pain Catastrophizing

Treatments

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02640079

15-001761

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and efficacy of a brief group therapy treatment program focused on reducing pain catastrophizing in adolescents and young adults (ages 16-25) with menstrual pain.

Enrollment

24 patients

Sex

Female

Ages

16 to 25 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Female ages 16-25 years
Self-reported menstrual cycle averaging 24-32 days
Menstrual pain rating of ≥4 on the Numeric Rating Scale for at least the previous three menstrual cycles prior to participation
Written informed consent or assent (if a minor, parent must also provide written parental permission)
Able to read and understand English

Exclusion criteria

Use of oral contraceptives or any exogenous hormones in the previous 3 months
Presence of persistent pelvic pain throughout the menstrual cycle
Acute illness or injury that may impact lab performance or that affects sensitivity of the extremities
Diagnosis of an underlying medical cause for dysmenorrhea symptoms
No or minimal menstrual pain (NRS rating of ≤ 3) during any of the 3 previous cycles prior to study participation
Daily use of opioids; participants using other analgesics will be included, but will be asked not to take these analgesics on the days of the lab sessions
Developmental delay, autism, or significant anatomic impairment that may preclude understanding of study procedures