Gibson Center for Behavioral Change participates in clinical trial
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – A clinical trial is now available to those who struggle with opioid use and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ashley Naeger is the Director of Clinical Research at the Gibson Center for Behavioral Change in Cape Girardeau. She shares that opioids are a class of drugs often used for pain relief such as fentanyl or heroine. These medications are often highly addicting. Naeger says there are several highly effective medications that helps with addiction to opioids, but people often stop taking the medication.
This clinical trial is aimed to helped those already taking medication for addiction to stay on their medication.
“The primary focus is to reduce the retention rates for those who are prescribed buprenorphine,” said Naeger.
Buprenorphine is a medication that helps those suffering with opioid addiction. Naeger shares how the clinical trial works.
“We are going to use a device called the sparrow ascent and its an earpiece. It’s non-invasive and what it will do, is it will go in three different places in or around your ear and is noninvasive and it will provide stimulation to different nerves that can help with opioid cravings.”
But the device doesn’t stop there Naeger shares how they are hoping it can also help with a common mental health disorder.
“And we are going to see if it can help reduce or alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Naeger says they need 19 more volunteers to participate in the free clinical trial. Those who participate can receive payments through gift cards.
The trial’s primary goal is to increase buprenorphine retention rates over a three-month period. This clinical trial is now accepting 19 more patients with both OUD and PTSD who are taking buprenorphine as part of their treatment at the Gibson Center for Behavioral Change in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. If you are interested in participating and are between the ages of 18-65, you can contact the Gibson Center.
