Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · Mar 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new treatment called Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) to help adults who have chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). The study will be conducted online through Zoom, where participants will join group sessions to learn helpful strategies for managing their pain, reducing feelings of disability, and dealing with other issues like depression and anxiety that often accompany these conditions.

To join the study, participants need to be between the ages of 65 and 74, able to read, write, and speak English, and have access to the internet for Zoom meetings. They must also have widespread pain and a diagnosis of opioid use disorder. However, individuals with certain medical conditions like autoimmune diseases or cancer, those currently undergoing therapy for pain, or anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding cannot participate. The trial is not yet recruiting, but when it does, participants can expect a supportive group environment focused on improving their emotional and physical well-being.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Be able to read, write and speak English
• • Have Internet access and audio-visual conferencing capability (e.g., Zoom meetings by phone or computer) in the home
• • Widespread pain and has opioid use disorder (OUD)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of autoimmune disease, spinal cord injury, cancer.
• • Currently receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy, EAET, or other psychological therapies for pain
• • Open litigation regarding chronic pain in the past 1 year, as assessed in preliminary study screening.
• • Inability to provide informed consent and complete study procedures (e.g., indications of suspected major cognitive impairment via observations of study staff during consenting) that would preclude comprehension or participation in study protocols.
• • Pregnant or breastfeeding
• • Any other diseases or conditions that would make a patient unsuitable for study participation as determined by the site principal investigators.