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Comparing a Single-Session of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain
Led by Mark A. Lumley · Updated on 2025-07-15
160
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating different single-session psychological therapies for people living with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study compares three approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), and Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET). These therapies focus on how thoughts, feelings, and brain processes influence pain, aiming to reduce or manage pain and improve functioning. The study will test which treatment works best and explore the specific ways each therapy may help. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one 90-minute remote session of CBT, PRT, or EAET, all delivered by doctoral students in clinical psychology. A fourth group will receive treatment as usual without additional psychological therapy. These single-session interventions emphasize different aspects of pain: CBT targets changing thoughts and behaviors, PRT focuses on reducing fear of injury, and EAET addresses fear related to emotional stress. The treatments are compared against a control group over a one-month period. Participants will complete assessments of pain severity, pain interference, mood, and physical function before and after treatment, as well as at one week and one month follow-ups. Researchers will use questionnaires and rating scales to track changes in pain and emotional distress. The study aims to identify which therapy offers the most relief and understand the psychological processes behind pain improvement. Total participation involves one remote therapy session plus several brief assessments over four weeks.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Comparing Single-Session Therapies for Chronic Pain
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Pain for at least 3 months occurring 4 or more days per week in the past 6 months
- Pain intensity last week is 3 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale
- Pain interference last week is 3 or higher on a 0 to 10 scale
- At least 18 years old
- Lives in the United States
- Fluent in English
- Has a personal computer or tablet with internet access
- Able to attend one 90-minute remote session
- Willing to be randomly assigned to a treatment
- Seeking to improve pain-related status through psychological therapy
You will not qualify if you...
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced complex regional pain syndrome
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced epilepsy or seizure disorder
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced autoimmune disease
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced liver disease
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced cancer
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced heart disease
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced substance dependence or use disorder
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced bipolar disorder
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced obsessive-compulsive disorder
- In past 2 years, treated for or experienced borderline personality disorder
- In past 2 years, attempted or intended suicide
- Major medical procedure scheduled within next 2 months
- Applied for or litigating pain-related disability or worker's compensation in past year
- Experienced major life event or stressor in past 6 months
- Cognitive impairment with screener score 4 or less or less than or equal to 4 points on screener test
- Unable to participate in study procedures or attend sessions as scheduled
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Duration - 1 session
Participants receive a single 90-minute remote session of one of three psychological therapies for chronic pain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, or Emotion Awareness and Expression Therapy. Some participants will be assigned to a no-treatment control group.
1 visit (remote)
Duration - 4 weeks
Participants are monitored to assess changes in pain severity, mood, and functioning at 1 week and 4 weeks after the treatment session or assignment to the control group.
2 remote follow-up assessments
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
Actively Recruiting
2
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Mark A Lumley, PhD
M
Marjorie Heule, MS
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
4
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