Bladder Pain SyndromePhase 1VEN-BPSNCT07698626
Venlafaxine Combined With Education and Behavioral Intervention for Bladder Pain Syndrome
A Phase 1 study testing Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) and Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only in people with Bladder Pain Syndrome and Chronic Pelvic Nociplastic Pain, run by Beijing Tiantan Hospital.
Trial summary
This study aims to compare two treatment plans for adults with bladder pain syndrome (also called interstitial cystitis), a disease that causes long-lasting bladder pain, frequent urination and urgent need to pee. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Bladder Pain Syndrome, Chronic Pelvic Nociplastic Pain, Interstitial Cystitis
- What is being tested?
- Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) and Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 31 Dec 2026to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years (all genders) Confirmed IC/BPS diagnosis fulfilling AUA 2015 and ESSIC standardized diagnostic criteria, ruled out confounding urologic disorders Predominant lower urinary tract symptoms present for most days in the past 3 months Baseline bladder/pelvic pain and urinary frequency score ≥ 3 points on 0-10 Likert scale within prior 4 weeks
Who cannot join
- Symptomatic urethral stricture Active degenerative/inflammatory neurological disease altering bladder/intestinal function Uncontrolled active autoimmune disease or systemic infection Medical history of pelvic tuberculosis, pelvic radiotherapy or chemotherapy-induced cystitis History of non-cutaneous malignant tumors Current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders) Clinically significant moderate-severe cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or renal insufficiency Documented hypersensitivity to venlafaxine or other SNRI drugs Concurrent regular use of antibiotics or NSAIDs throughout trial period Pregnancy or breastfeeding state at screening
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Multicenter, Open-label, Observer-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Venlafaxine Plus Education and Behavioral Modification Program Versus Education and Behavioral Modification Program Alone in Adults With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
This study aims to compare two treatment plans for adults with bladder pain syndrome (also called interstitial cystitis), a disease that causes long-lasting bladder pain, frequent urination and urgent need to pee. All participants will receive standardized patient education and behavioral training to relieve urinary discomfort. Half of the participants will only get this behavioral intervention, while the other half will take oral venlafaxine in addition to the same behavioral training for 12 weeks. We will check patients' pain levels, urination frequency, sleep quality, mood and daily life ability at 1, 2, 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. The main goal is to see whether adding venlafaxine can better ease bladder pain and urinary symptoms without obvious side effects. This research will provide safer and more effective treatment suggestions for patients with bladder pain syndrome.
- Being tested
- Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP), Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only
- Medical subject headings
- Cystitis, Interstitial
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP)Drug
Oral venlafaxine with flexible dose titration for 12 weeks plus standardized EBMP. Initial dose 75mg once daily in week 1, escalate to 150mg daily at week 3, maximum up to 225mg daily based on tolerance and symptom improvement. All participants receive identical disease education, bladder training, dietary guidance and psychological stress management training weekly. No other antidepressants, NSAIDs or rescue analgesics are allowed during the trial.
Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) onlyBehavioural
12-week standardized behavioral intervention without additional oral drugs, including IC/BPS disease education, bladder irritant dietary restriction, timed bladder training, pelvic floor relaxation training and sleep/stress adjustment guidance. Weekly telephone follow-up to monitor adherence; no antidepressants or analgesics permitted throughout the study period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 Control Arm (n=70) | Other | Intervention Name: Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) Only Intervention Description: Standardized 12-week behavioral intervention including IC/BPS disease education, bladder irritant dietary restriction guidance, timed bladder training, pelvic floor relaxation training, stress and sleep adjustment guidance. No additional oral antidepressants, analgesics or NSAIDs permitted throughout trial. Weekly telephone follow-up for adherence monitoring. Receives: Behavioral: Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only |
| Arm 2 Experimental Arm (n=70) | Experimental | Intervention Name: Venlafaxine + Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) Intervention Description: Full identical EBMP intervention as control group, plus flexible-dose oral venlafaxine for 12 weeks. Week 1 starting dose: 75mg once daily evening administration; Week3 escalate to 150mg daily if well-tolerated; Week5 maximum titration up to 225mg daily based on individual tolerance and symptom improvement. Dose down-titration allowed for intolerable adverse events to identify individual maximum tolerated dose (MTD), maintained until week12 endpoint. No rescue analgesic, NSAID or other antidepressant allowed during study period. Weekly telephone follow-up to record drug compliance and adverse reactions. Receives: Drug: Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Self-reported Global Response Assessment (GRA)
Binary clinical response endpoint, defined as significant overall improvement in bladder pain and urinary symptoms versus minimal/no improvement, completed by participants at the 12-week treatment endpoint.
Measured: 12 weeks after randomization
Secondary outcomes (3)
Mean Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Bladder Pain Score
0-10 Likert scale; higher scores represent more severe bladder/pelvic discomfort.
Measured: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency (PUF) Total Score
8-item scale total score ranging 0-40; higher scores indicate worse pelvic pain and lower urinary tract symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
O'Leary-Sant ICSI + ICPI Composite Symptom Score
ICSI (0-20) evaluates frequency, nocturia, urgency and pain; ICPI (0-16) measures symptom-related life interference.
Measured: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jul 2026
- Study start31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Bladder Pain SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Beijing Tiantan HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fang Luo, Beijing Tiantan Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07698626
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026YJSKTPG
- Acronym
- VEN-BPS
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The plan for sharing individual participant data (IPD) has not yet been finalized. After trial completion, the research team will evaluate data sharing feasibility under the supervision of the Institutional Review Board, including assessment of participant privacy protection, data de-identification procedures, institutional data management policies and relevant domestic clinical research data regulations. A formal data sharing plan will be formulated and updated to this registry before study results publication.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter, Open-label, Observer-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Venlafaxine Plus Education and Behavioral Modification Program Versus Education and Behavioral Modification Program Alone in Adults With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07698626
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VEN-BPS / 2026YJSKTPG
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Tiantan HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare two treatment plans for adults with bladder pain syndrome (also called interstitial cystitis), a disease that causes long-lasting bladder pain, frequent urination and urgent need to pee. All participants will receive standardized patient education and behavioral training to relieve urinary discomfort. Half of the participants will only get this behavioral intervention, while the other half will take oral venlafaxine in addition to the same behavioral training for 12 weeks. We will check patients' pain levels, urination frequency, sleep quality, mood and daily life ability at 1, 2, 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. The main goal is to see whether adding venlafaxine can better ease bladder pain and urinary symptoms without obvious side effects. This research will provide safer and more effective treatment suggestions for patients with bladder pain syndrome.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 Control Arm (n=70) | Other | Behavioral: Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) onlyIntervention Name: Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) Only Intervention Description: Standardized 12-week behavioral intervention including IC/BPS disease education, bladder irritant dietary restriction guidance, timed bladder training, pelvic floor relaxation training, stress and sleep adjustment guidance. No additional oral antidepressants, analgesics or NSAIDs permitted throughout trial. Weekly telephone follow-up for adherence monitoring. |
| Arm 2 Experimental Arm (n=70) | Experimental | Drug: Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP)Intervention Name: Venlafaxine + Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) Intervention Description: Full identical EBMP intervention as control group, plus flexible-dose oral venlafaxine for 12 weeks. Week 1 starting dose: 75mg once daily evening administration; Week3 escalate to 150mg daily if well-tolerated; Week5 maximum titration up to 225mg daily based on individual tolerance and symptom improvement. Dose down-titration allowed for intolerable adverse events to identify individual maximum tolerated dose (MTD), maintained until week12 endpoint. No rescue analgesic, NSAID or other antidepressant allowed during study period. Weekly telephone follow-up to record drug compliance and adverse reactions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years (all genders) Confirmed IC/BPS diagnosis fulfilling AUA 2015 and ESSIC standardized diagnostic criteria, ruled out confounding urologic disorders Predominant lower urinary tract symptoms present for most days in the past 3 months Baseline bladder/pelvic pain and urinary frequency score ≥ 3 points on 0-10 Likert scale within prior 4 weeks
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Symptomatic urethral stricture Active degenerative/inflammatory neurological disease altering bladder/intestinal function Uncontrolled active autoimmune disease or systemic infection Medical history of pelvic tuberculosis, pelvic radiotherapy or chemotherapy-induced cystitis History of non-cutaneous malignant tumors Current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders) Clinically significant moderate-severe cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or renal insufficiency Documented hypersensitivity to venlafaxine or other SNRI drugs Concurrent regular use of antibiotics or NSAIDs throughout trial period Pregnancy or breastfeeding state at screening
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP)Oral venlafaxine with flexible dose titration for 12 weeks plus standardized EBMP. Initial dose 75mg once daily in week 1, escalate to 150mg daily at week 3, maximum up to 225mg daily based on tolerance and symptom improvement. All participants receive identical disease education, bladder training, dietary guidance and psychological stress management training weekly. No other antidepressants, NSAIDs or rescue analgesics are allowed during the trial. | Drug | Arm 2 Experimental Arm (n=70) |
| Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only12-week standardized behavioral intervention without additional oral drugs, including IC/BPS disease education, bladder irritant dietary restriction, timed bladder training, pelvic floor relaxation training and sleep/stress adjustment guidance. Weekly telephone follow-up to monitor adherence; no antidepressants or analgesics permitted throughout the study period. | Behavioural | Arm 1 Control Arm (n=70) |
Primary outcome
Patient Self-reported Global Response Assessment (GRA)
Time frame: 12 weeks after randomization
Binary clinical response endpoint, defined as significant overall improvement in bladder pain and urinary symptoms versus minimal/no improvement, completed by participants at the 12-week treatment endpoint.
3 secondary outcomes
Mean Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Bladder Pain Score
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency (PUF) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
O'Leary-Sant ICSI + ICPI Composite Symptom Score
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, Week2, Week6, Week12
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The plan for sharing individual participant data (IPD) has not yet been finalized. After trial completion, the research team will evaluate data sharing feasibility under the supervision of the Institutional Review Board, including assessment of participant privacy protection, data de-identification procedures, institutional data management policies and relevant domestic clinical research data regulations. A formal data sharing plan will be formulated and updated to this registry before study results publication.
Related trials for Bladder Pain Syndrome
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Migraine Medication Effects on Urinary Symptoms
Overactive Bladder, Bladder Pain Syndrome
Recruiting
EPPIC: Easing Pelvic Pain Interventions Clinical Research Program
Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (UCPPS), Interstitial Cystitis
Recruiting
Investigation of PEMF Therapy for Female Patients With IC/BPS
Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Interstitial Cystitis
Recruiting
Aerobic Exercise and Connective Tissue Massage in Painful Bladder Syndrome
Bladder Pain Syndrome, Painful Bladder Syndrome
RecruitingPhase 2/3
Amniotic Membrane Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome
Interstitial Cystitis, Painful Bladder Syndrome
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing Venlafaxine oral tablet combined with Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) and Education and Behavioral Modification Program (EBMP) only in people with Bladder Pain Syndrome and Chronic Pelvic Nociplastic Pain, run by Beijing Tiantan Hospital.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Fang Luo FL, doctor (+8615560392365, Litypacop@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Self-reported Global Response Assessment (GRA) (time frame: 12 weeks after randomization). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jul 2026.