# Stochastic vibro-tactile stimulation: A non-pharmacological intervention for abstinence and drug withdrawal in newborn infants

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $314,100

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Drug withdrawal in newborns is a growing and costly public health problem. Infants exposed to drugs during
pregnancy often require prolonged hospitalization with pharmacotherapy for central, autonomic, vasomotor and
gastrointestinal instabilities, which may contribute to poor neurobehavioral outcomes. There is a critical need to
develop non-pharmacological interventions for managing withdrawal in newborns to reduce withdrawal
symptoms, facilitate weaning, decrease pharmacotherapy, and provide additional intervention for infants in
whom pharmacological treatment is insufficient. Growing research suggests the importance of sensory tactile
stimulation for promoting physiological maturation, brain development, and stability of function, and for
improving behaviors implicated in intrauterine drug exposure. Evidence supports that low-level, stochastic
(random) stimulation can promote stability in destabilized biological systems, including improved transduction
of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in animals, sensory perception in adults, and improved cardio-respiratory
function in premature infants. Our recent pilot data suggests that acute presentation of low-level stochastic
vibratory stimulation (SVS) delivered through a uniquely-constructed crib mattress improves physiological
function in drug-withdrawing infants. The main objective of this proposal is to test whether early intervention
(initiated within 24 hours post birth) and daily administration of SVS reduces withdrawal and improves
neurobehavioral outcomes. Findings from this study will elucidate whether SVS has potential as a therapeutic
treatment for drug-exposed newborns to reduce symptomatology, facilitate weaning and minimize
hospitalization, with implications for better regulation of systems, improved developmental outcomes and
reduced medical costs.
The three areas to be investigated in this project are:
 1. Determine the efficacy of SVS as a non-pharmacological therapy complementary to standard
clinical care (SCC) for reducing severity and duration of opioid withdrawal in newborns compared to
SCC alone. Quantify clinical variables: NAS severity, days in hospital, velocity of weight gain, cumulative
morphine dose.
 2. Examine physiological responses to SVS at different stages of withdrawal severity compared to
SCC. Measure cardio-respiratory stability, temperature regulation, movement as an index of sleep
fragmentation, salivary cortisol as an index of stress level.
 3. Compare neurobehavioral outcomes in fetal drug-exposed infants between infants who received
SVS and those who received SCC. Longitudinal outcomes assessment at 1 month, 6-months and 1 year to
test whether early intervention with SVS compared to standard care improves physical, social, emotional and
cognitive development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320587
- **Project number:** 7R01DA042074-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisabeth Bloch Salisbury
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $314,100
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320587

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320587, Stochastic vibro-tactile stimulation: A non-pharmacological intervention for abstinence and drug withdrawal in newborn infants (7R01DA042074-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320587. Licensed CC0.

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