Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Veterans With Chronic Neck/Back Pain

NCT06406699 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 23-1387
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators are conducting a trial that evaluates the feasibility of telehealth group pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), with no comparison group, for the treatment of chronic back pain in a population of veterans. PRT is a psychotherapy for chronic pain that aims to help patients reconceptualize their pain as a non-dangerous signal. It has been shown to be effective in a previous RCT (n=151).

Conditions

Chronic Back Pain; Chronic Pain; Neck Pain; Back Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• PEG-3 Average Pain in last week

  0-10 scale that asks participant to rate their average pain (0=No pain, 10=Pain as bad as possible) in the last week

  Baseline, Post-treatment, and 2-months post-treatment

Study Arms (1)

Pain Reprocessing Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will participate in once weekly telehealth group pain reprocessing therapy. Sessions will last approximately 1 hour in length. Group size will be approximately 10 individuals.

Behavioral: Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

Interventions

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) BEHAVIORAL

PRT is a psychological intervention for chronic pain patients with a primary nociplastic component. PRT aims to help patients reconceptualize their pain as a non-dangerous signal that is not indicative of tissue pathology or structural abnormality. Through decreasing the threat level of their chronic pain, the pain itself can also resolve.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• At least 6 months of back pain with last week average back pain at least 4/10
• Able to attend at least 7/8 telehealth group sessions
• Access to safe living space, quite room, reliable internet, and electronic device that can be used to attend telehealth therapy sessions.

You may not qualify if:

• Leg pain that is worse than back pain
• Suicide attempt, SI, HI, or inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the past 5 years
• Not receiving/has not received disability or workers compensation related to back pain in the past 2 years.
• Is not currently involved in litigation regarding chronic back pain.
• Current misuse or overuse of alcohol or drugs
• Major surgery or other major medical events in the next 6 months
• Known vertebral/spinal fracture or tumor.
• Back surgery within last 2 years
• Difficulty controlling bowel movements
• Current or recent diagnosis of cancer
• Current or recent diagnosis of severe cardiovascular disease
• Unexplained or unintended greater than 20 pound weight loss in the past year
• Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, Lupus, polymyositis, or other specific inflammatory disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Colorado, Denver: lead
• VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus VA

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Neck Pain; Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2024
• First Posted: May 9, 2024
• Study Start: April 17, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 25, 2025
• Study Completion: February 8, 2025
• Last Updated: July 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)