Participants are randomly assigned to a treatment group, and they receive treatments at no charge through a grant from the National Institute of Dental Research. Lupus Pain and Stress Study People who have systemic lupus erythematosus often report that pain and other symptoms are worse in times of stress. In addition, the researchers will evaluate whether the treatments can modify lupus disease activity. Participants in the first two groups receive six sessions with a psychologist who specializes in pain and chronic illness. Those assigned to the usual-care group undergo evaluations only.
All participants continue with their usual medical care.
Further medical evaluations are conducted three months and nine months after the treatment sessions. The study is funded by the Arthritis Foundation and conducted with colleagues at the UPMC Presbyterian Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology. To read about one of the studies, in which researchers are investigating the effectiveness of various treatments for chronic pain following spinal cord injury or amputation, visit Spinal Cord Injury and Postamputation Pain Treatment Project. PENS involves the use of acupuncture needles that deliver an electric current. In the study 20 subjects receive physical therapy plus PENS twice a week for six weeks.