Comparing Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Usual Care for Veterans with Chronic Back or Neck Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating which treatment works better for veterans with chronic neck or back pain. This trial compares three approaches Pain Reprocessing Therapy PRT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT, and usual care, which means continuing whatever the participant is already doing to manage their pain. The study aims to understand how these treatments reduce pain and affect emotional health, quality of life, anxiety, and pain medication use. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Those in the PRT group will have one telehealth session with a physician followed by eight weekly 50-minute therapy sessions using techniques like education about pain in the brain, mindfulness, and reducing pain-related fear. The CBT group will receive nine weekly 50-minute sessions focused on managing chronic pain through exercises, relaxation, cognitive coping, and sleep improvement. The usual care group will continue their current pain management for nine weeks. During the study, participants will complete questionnaires about their pain and health at several points, including after treatment and up to one year later. Researchers will assess pain intensity, pain interference, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, fatigue, PTSD symptoms, client satisfaction, and medication use. The study is conducted remotely, and participants will be monitored through their responses and therapy sessions over video calls.

Psychological Options for Wellness and Recovery (POWeR) Trial for Veterans With Chronic Back/Neck Pain