Pain Acceptance Training in Patients Experiencing Emotional Distress and Somatic Symptoms: Examination of Dialectical Thinking as a Mediating Factor

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA · Jul 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new type of training called pain acceptance training, which aims to help people who experience ongoing physical pain along with emotional distress, such as anxiety or sadness. The training teaches participants to accept their pain while also recognizing their wish to reduce it, using a way of thinking called dialectical thinking—basically, holding two opposite ideas at once. Researchers want to see if this approach can reduce physical pain and emotional difficulties in people who suffer from both.

People who might be eligible to join are adults aged 18 to 70 who have significant pain that affects their daily life and are also experiencing emotional distress. Participants will need to provide consent and should not have certain conditions like psychotic disorders, autism, or immediate suicide risk. Pregnant women and those who recently started new treatments won’t be able to join either. If accepted, participants can expect to take part in the pain acceptance training and be monitored to see how well it helps with their pain and emotional wellbeing. This study is currently recruiting volunteers who fit these criteria.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Men and Women
• • 2. Aged 18-70
• • 3. Able to provide a signed informed consent
• • 4. Experiencing significant pain symptoms that interfere with daily-life functioning
• • 5. Experiencing significant emotional distress symptoms
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Patients under the age of 18 and/or diagnosed with one or more of the following diagnoses will be excluded from participation in the study:
• • 1. Patients rating their average pain in the last week and in the last month as less than 3 in a 0-10 numerical rating scale (i.e. NPS)
• • 2. Patients rating their emotional distress levels as less than 25 in a 10-50 numerical rating scale (i.e. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale \[K10\])
• • 3. Patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders and/or suffering from psychotic symptoms.
• • 4. Patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder.
• • 5. Patients diagnosed with Intellectual disability.
• • 6. Patients diagnosed with eating disorders.
• • 7. Patients with Immediate suicidal risk.
• • 8. Patients who initiated a new drug and/or psychotherapy treatment within the last month.
• • 9. Pregnant women.
• • 10. Patients currently serving in the IDF.