Group psychological treatments via video for older veterans with chronic pain

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study compares the effects of three group-based psychological treatments delivered through video telehealth for older U.S. military Veterans suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain. The treatments being evaluated are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), and Mindfulness Meditation (MM). The goal is to optimize these treatments for better access and effectiveness, particularly for older Veterans who are more susceptible to the side effects of medications. The study will also assess which patient characteristics predict the best responses to each treatment.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible individuals are

* Veterans
* have at least 3 months of musculoskeletal pain, including the following conditions: back, neck, leg, or pelvic pain; temporomandibular joint disorders; fibromyalgia; tension headaches; or any combination of these disorders
* have an average daily pain intensity of at least 4 on a 0 to 10 scale

Exclusion Criteria:

* pain conditions likely to respond pharmacologic or surgical treatment only when they are the primary or sole complaint: hip or knee osteoarthritis, leg pain greater than back pain (to exclude radiculopathy), electromyography-confirmed "tunnel" syndromes (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), gout, neuralgias, migraine, and cluster headaches
* non-musculoskeletal pain conditions: autoimmune disease that typically generates pain (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cancer pain, sickle cell disease, burn pain, infection associated with pain, and cauda equina syndrome
* these conditions or circumstances: severe psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder not controlled with medications, active suicide or violence risk, active severe alcohol or substance use disorder, substantial cognitive impairment or dementia (assessed using telephone Mini-Mental State Examination (tMMSE) score \<19), previously completed EAET, CBT-CP, or MM/MBSR, currently enrolled in another psychological pain treatment, currently in pain-related litigation or applying for pain-related compensation or compensation increase, unable to fluently read or converse in English, no home internet access

Where it's running

• VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
  West Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting
• VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT
  West Haven, Connecticut, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Brandon C Yarns, MD MS BME — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
• Study coordinator: Karin C Liu, MPH
• Email: karin.liu@va.gov
• Phone: (310) 478-3711

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.