Digital therapy for chronic back pain

Healing Track Randomized Clinical Trial

Not applicable Interventional Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT06641102

This study is testing a new digital therapy for chronic back pain to see if it works better than regular treatments for helping people feel less pain.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment180 (estimated)
Ages21 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Academic / other
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT06641102 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates a digital pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) for individuals suffering from chronic back pain (CBP). Participants will be randomized into three groups: one receiving a self-guided digital program, another receiving a coach-assisted program, and a control group receiving standard of care interventions. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of the digital therapy against traditional treatment methods in reducing pain intensity. A total of 180 adults aged 21 to 70 with chronic back pain will be enrolled in the trial.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 to 70 who have been experiencing chronic back pain for at least three months.

Not a fit: Patients with back pain related to compensation or litigation issues, or those whose leg pain is greater than their back pain, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this digital therapy could provide a more effective and accessible treatment option for patients with chronic back pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using digital therapies for pain management, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 21 to 70
* Chronic Back Pain- CBP will be defined according to the criteria established by a recent NIH task force
* Pain duration must be at least 3 months, with back pain being an ongoing problem for at least half the days of the last 6 months. That is, patients can meet criteria by either reporting pain every day for the past 3 months, or by reporting pain on half or more of the days for the past 6+ months.
* Patients must rate pain intensity at 4/10 or greater on the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPISF) (on the item measuring average pain over the last week).
* Participants must also be comfortable and able to communicate via email or text message, as several study measures are collected in this manner.
* Able to use a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria:

* Back pain associated with compensation or litigation issues as determined by self-report within the past year
* Leg pain is greater than back pain, as this suggests neuropathic pain, which may be less responsive to psychotherapy
* Cauda Equina syndrome, as screened for by self-reported inability to control bowel or bladder function
* Self-reported diagnoses of schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder
* Self-reported use of intravenous drugs, due to concerns about infections and subject compliance with experimental protocols

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Chronic Back Pain
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.