# Evaluating dynamic associations between pain catastrophizing and the effect of cannabinoids

> **NIH NIH F32** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $65,310

## Abstract

Project Summary
This NRSA F32 proposal includes a coordinated training plan and research project that will facilitate the
candidate's transition to becoming a productive, independent investigator. Specifically, the applicant proposes
three training goals: (1) develop expertise in psychophysical pain assessment; (2) acquire comprehensive
knowledge of the methodology, safety, and ethics of conducting human behavioral pharmacological research;
and (3) deepen knowledge of cannabis/cannabinoids, their mechanisms of action, and risk. Learned skills will
be applied to conducting a research project that will examine how the effect of an FDA-approved cannabinoid
(i.e., dronabinol) is dynamically associated with pain catastrophizing, a potent predictor of negative pain-related
outcomes and a crucial psychological factor in pain management. Although chronic pain is a debilitating
condition that affects millions of individuals, current treatment options for pain still largely rely on opioids, which
have substantial safety concerns. Thus, investigating safer and more effective pharmacological pain
management strategies is imperative for public health. Pre-clinical studies suggest considerable promise of
cannabinoids as an effective analgesic agent. However, findings on the efficacy of cannabinoid analgesia have
been widely mixed across human clinical studies. Furthermore, despite the fact that effective pain
management involves addressing various factors beyond pain reduction, previous studies on cannabinoids
have only focused on evaluating pain intensity as their primary endpoint. The applicant proposes that pain
catastrophizing (PC), a maladaptive state and trait cognitive-affective response to pain, can play an important
role in expanding our nascent understanding of cannabinoids’ potential utility in pain management. The
proposed study builds upon the applicant’s knowledge and experience in pain-related cognition and individual
differences in pain regulation. This project will be based upon sponsors’ NIH-funded parent R01 (DA042751)
that is a within-subject, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled human laboratory experiment with
chronic pain patients. The applicant’s proposed study aims to investigate cannabinoids’ potential to reduce
state PC and the influence of trait PC on analgesic efficacy of cannabinoids. It is expected that cannabinoid
administration will result in a greater reduction in state PC than a placebo. It is also hypothesized that
individuals with higher trait PC will exhibit significantly lower cannabinoid analgesia relative to those with lower
trait PC. The training and mentorship that the applicant will receive from pursing the present study will help him
attain his long-term goal of unraveling the bio-behavioral mechanisms of pain regulation and developing
personalized integrative pain management programs. Furthermore, the present study will contribute to a
nuanced evaluation of cannabinoids’ therapeutic potential in pain ma...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980695
- **Project number:** 5F32DA049393-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Chung Jung Mun
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $65,310
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980695

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980695, Evaluating dynamic associations between pain catastrophizing and the effect of cannabinoids (5F32DA049393-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980695. Licensed CC0.

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