Comparing Single-Session Therapies for Chronic Pain

Launched by MARK A. LUMLEY · May 28, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying different types of psychological therapies to help people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, which is long-lasting pain in the muscles and bones. Researchers want to find out if a single session of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), or Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) is more effective in reducing pain compared to not receiving any treatment at all. The trial will explore how these therapies work and whether they benefit patients differently.

To participate in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old, live in the U.S., and have experienced chronic pain for at least three months, with a pain level of 3 or higher on a scale of 0 to 10. You should also have access to a computer or tablet and be comfortable attending one 90-minute online session. It's important to note that certain medical conditions and past treatments could make someone ineligible to join. If you qualify and decide to participate, you'll have a chance to help researchers understand which therapy may work best for managing chronic pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Pain for at least 3 months and experienced 4 or more days/week for the past 6 months
• • Pain intensity last week is \>= 3 (0 to 10 rating scale)
• • Pain interference last week is \>= 3 (0 to 10 rating scale)
• • At least age 18
• • Lives in United States
• • Fluent in English
• • Has personal computer/tablet and internet access
• • Able to attend one 90-minute session
• • Willing to be randomized
• • Seeking to improve their pain-related status via a psychological therapy
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Past 2 years (treated for or having experienced):
• • Complex regional pain syndrome
• • Epilepsy/seizure disorder
• • Autoimmune disease
• • Liver disease
• • Cancer
• • Heart disease
• • Substance dependence or use disorder
• • Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
• • Bipolar disorder
• • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• • Borderline personality disorder
• • Suicide attempt or suicide intention or impulse
• • Major medical procedure scheduled within next 2 months
• • Applied for/ litigating for pain-related disability/worker's compensation (past year).
• • Major life event/stressor in past 6 months
• • Cognitive impairment (screener score \<=4)