Sleep, Pain and Inflammatory Processes in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis

Inclusion Criteria:

- 50-75 years of age (for women, post-menopausal)

- Kellgren-Lawrence grade II radiographic evidence of OA affecting one or both knees

- knee pain on most days for ≥ 6 months

- self-reported disability due to knee pain for ≥ 2 of the following: walking,
kneeling, ascending or descending stairs, or performing daily activities

- willing and able to avoid all prescription and non-prescription, non-opiate pain
medication for 48 hours prior to testing and all narcotic pain medication for 2 weeks
prior to testing

- meets research diagnostic criteria for sleep maintenance insomnia

Exclusion Criteria:

- health conditions with immunological components or undergoing or taking
immunosuppressive therapies

- conditions contraindicated for or potentially limiting ability to conduct NFR and/or
cold pressor test (e.g. Raynaud's syndrome; seizures; prior MI; respiratory
conditions; leg/hip nerve damage; BMI ≥ 32)

- sleep disorders other than insomnia

- dementia or cognitive impairment

- history of schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder; current or recent history (within 3
months) of major psychiatric disorders

- current depressive symptomatology or current suicidality

- active substance dependence

- untreated hypertension

- use of antidepressants (stable use for 3 months okay), antipsychotics, mood
stabilizers, sedative-hypnotics, opiate analgesics