Actively Recruiting
Psychological Options for Wellness and Recovery (POWeR) Trial for Veterans With Chronic Back/Neck Pain
Led by University of Colorado, Denver · Updated on 2026-03-31
360
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
127 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Colorado, Denver
Lead Sponsor
V
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which treatment works better for veterans with chronic neck or back pain. This study is comparing three treatments: Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and usual care (whatever a person is already doing to cope with their pain). The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Which treatment works better for lowering pain: PRT, CBT, or usual care? 2. How do the effects of PRT compare with CBT and usual care in terms of pain relief and other factors such as emotional functioning, quality of life, anxiety, and pain medication use? Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to receive either PRT, CBT, or usual care. 2. Complete questionnaires about their pain and health. 3. If in the PRT or CBT group, have nine weekly therapy sessions over video calls with a therapist.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Psychological Options for Wellness and Recovery (POWeR) Trial for Veterans With Chronic Back/Neck Pain
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults (18 and older)
- Be veterans
- Have a history of chronic back or neck pain defined as pain at least half the days of the last 6 months.
- Have moderate or greater pain, defined as pain intensity ≥4 in the past week
You will not qualify if you...
Clinical presentation suggestive of back pain that is secondary or peripheral in nature, including self-reported leg pain that is worse than back pain (indicative of radiculopathy or sciatica), spine surgery within the past 6 months, fall, motor vehicle accident or other trauma related to back pain in the past 6 months, back pain due to an inflammatory disorder, infection, or malignant etiology as determined per medical provider review, known sensory abnormality in trunk or legs, recent large (>20 lbs) unexplained weight loss, difficulty controlling bowels (to screen out cauda equina syndrome), and self-reported diagnoses of specific inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, Lupus, and polymyositis).
Additionally, patients who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible due to anticipated difficulties complying with study procedures:
- Moderate or severe cognitive impairment
- Unstable or severe untreated mental health condition, including active suicidal ideation
- Unstable or end-stage medical disease including active cancer
- Back surgery planned within the next 6 months
- Inability to communicate by telephone or video, including inability due to housing instability
- Current pain-related litigation outside the VA (service connection-related applications are not excluded)
- Having engaged in CBT or PRT for chronic pain in the past 6 months
- Participants may be excluded based on the discretion of PIs Ashar and Frank
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
J
Jonathan K Ashar, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here