CBT for chronic pain in veterans with serious mental illness
Official title: Exploring the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavorial Therapy for Chronic Pain in Veterans with Serious Mental Illness
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-11111742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A government-funded program tests whether a talk-based therapy called CBT-CP helps veterans who have both chronic pain and serious mental illness feel better and function more normally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RX005049-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are veterans with serious mental illness who experience chronic low back pain and are eligible for CBT-CP.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without chronic musculoskeletal pain or without SMI may not directly benefit from this specific trial.
What this research studies
This project will test a non-drug therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain specifically in veterans who have serious mental illness. Researchers plan a randomized trial to see if CBT-CP reduces pain interference and improves daily functioning in this group. If successful, the study aims to support wider adoption of CBT-CP across the VA system for patients who face both chronic pain and mental health challenges. The effort addresses a real-world clinical need by focusing on nonpharmacological pain management within a vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, CBT-CP could improve pain control and daily functioning for veterans with SMI, potentially reducing hospitalizations and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Similar nonpharmacological pain therapies have helped other populations, but this exact combination in veterans with SMI is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Travaglini, Letitia — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Travaglini, Letitia
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.