Comparing Personalized and Standardized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Chronic Primary Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how personalized cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT compares to standardized CBT for treating chronic primary pain CPP, a condition where pain lasts for at least six months and is the main symptom. This study aims to see if tailoring CBT using data-driven methods can improve treatment outcomes compared to a standard approach. The study involves adult patients with CPP from German outpatient clinics and includes detailed measurement of pain disability, treatment expectations, and side effects. Participants receive both personalized and standardized CBT in different orders. Personalized CBT uses data from a 21-day ecological momentary assessment EMA to create individual treatment targets and deliver one of ten specialized therapy modules. Standardized CBT follows a manual with five core sessions including techniques like relaxation and cognitive strategies. The study includes a diagnostic phase, two treatment phases, baselines between treatments, and a 3-week EMA phase, plus two booster sessions at one and three months post-therapy. During the study, participants complete questionnaires on pain disability, disability in daily life, therapeutic alliance, treatment expectations, side effects, and pain intensity at multiple points from baseline through follow-up up to six months later. Data are collected before and after each phase and frequently during treatment. Researchers analyze both group-level and individual changes to understand therapy effects and aim to enroll 75 participants to ensure reliable results.

Network-Based vs. Standardized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Chronic Primary Pain