PATIENT study v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the impact of armed conflict on chronic pain and response to treatment: Pain After Traumatic Incidents or Events during Northern Ireland's Troubles (PATIENT)
IRAS ID
361447
Contact name
Lesley Colvin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background: Chronic pain (CP), is pain persisting longer than 3 months. Compared with global averages, armed conflict regions have more people with CP and psychological responses to traumatic events (TEs), such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and problematic alcohol and substance use, further compounding distress and disability.
Aims: We aim to:
• Understand how many people who have experienced TEs in Northern Ireland also have CP, and how this impacts their lives;
• Investigate relationships between CP, TEs and psychological responses to TEs, and how these relationships impact health-related quality of life;
• Describe the treatments received for CP and psychological responses to TEs and perceptions of how much those treatments have helped.
Setting: The Regional Trauma Network (RTN) delivers a comprehensive trauma service in Northern Ireland; services are available to all persons that have experienced conflict-related TEs.
Participants: We will invite everyone active in RTN-based psychological therapy or counselling (3,500-4,500 people) to participate. This is to ensure that anyone choosing to participate will have access to psychological support, if needed.
Materials: We will use questionnaires, successfully used in other studies, to investigate: nature of TEs experienced; presence of psychological responses to TEs; presence and characteristics of CP and neuropathic pain; health-related quality of life; level of expressed pain-related treatment need; treatments received for both CP and psychological responses to TEs; and perceptions of the extent to which different treatments have helped.
Procedure: Therapists at the RTN will distribute questionnaire packs to all potential participants. Documentation will emphasise that participation in the study is entirely voluntary and anonymous and that the return of completed questionnaires will be understood as consent to participate.
Implications: Improved understanding of the complex interactions between trauma, associated psychological responses, CP and treatment responses will support more targeted treatment, inform policy and service development, and improve quality of life for trauma-exposed people with CP.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SW/0048
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion