Comparing Group Video Psychological Therapies for Older Veterans With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Mindfulness Meditation, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating three types of group-based psychological treatments delivered via video telehealth to address chronic musculoskeletal pain in older U.S. military Veterans. The study focuses on older Veterans aged 60 to 95 years because they experience high rates of chronic pain and are more vulnerable to side effects from medications and procedures. The treatments being compared are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy CBT, Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy EAET, and Mindfulness Meditation MM, with a goal to determine which treatment works best for different patients and how each treatment affects pain and emotional symptoms. The study delivers all treatments in group sessions conducted over video telehealth to Veterans homes. EAET aims to reduce physical and emotional symptoms by helping participants become aware of and express their emotions. MM focuses on present moment awareness, self-compassion, and acceptance of pain using techniques like mindful breathing and loving kindness. CBT teaches cognitive and behavioral skills such as relaxation training and activity pacing to help manage pain. Veterans will be randomly assigned to one of these three treatment groups and participate in standardized formats of each therapy. Participants will be involved in assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 20 weeks to measure changes in pain severity, pain interference, depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and overall patient impression of change. Researchers will also collect demographic and clinical information to understand which Veterans respond best to each treatment. The study plans to enroll up to 216 multi-ethnic older Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain and will monitor outcomes using validated questionnaires and patient reports throughout the study period.

Group-Based Psychological Treatments Over Video Conference for Older Veterans With Chronic Pain