Helping adolescents with chronic pain build resilience
Official title: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Resilience Coaching for Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11098675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a program called PRISM that helps teenagers with ongoing pain by teaching them skills to handle stress and build resilience, so they can feel better both physically and emotionally while connecting with others who understand what they're going through.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $160,812 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AR081409-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 18 who are experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have chronic musculoskeletal pain or are outside the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a program designed to help adolescents suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain by teaching them resilience skills. The program, called Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM), aims to improve both physical and psychological outcomes for these young patients. It includes group sessions where participants can share experiences and learn coping strategies together. The study will assess how effective this adapted intervention is in reducing pain and improving overall well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide adolescents with effective tools to manage their chronic pain and improve their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with resilience training programs for adolescents with serious illnesses, indicating a promising approach for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gmuca, Sabrina Andrea — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Gmuca, Sabrina Andrea
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Resilience Coaching for Teens with Long-Lasting Muscle and Bone Pain
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-
Understanding how resilience and physical activity affect chronic pain in adolescents
This study is looking at how being mentally strong and active can help teenagers with ongoing pain in their muscles and joints, and it involves 60 teens sharing their experiences and wearing devices to track their activity levels.
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Biopsychosocial factors in pediatric chronic musculoskeletal pain
A study at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will look at how biological, psychological, and social factors contribute to chronic muscle and joint pain in young people to find better ways to help them.
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Neurobiological and psychosocial factors that may turn acute teen pain into chronic pain
A study following teenagers with acute musculoskeletal pain to understand why some develop chronic pain and how biology and psychology interact to shape their outcomes.
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This program helps veterans with COPD and long-term muscle or joint pain use a web-based step program together with Tai Chi to move more and feel stronger.
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GET SMART: Tailored graded exposure for kids with chronic musculoskeletal pain
A multi-site trial tests a stepwise, personalized exposure-based therapy for children with long-standing musculoskeletal pain and their families.
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.