Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Chronic Low Back 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 single-center pilot trial will enroll 30 working-age adults with chronic low back pain and randomize them to eight weekly sessions of Pain Reprocessing Therapy or a Monitoring and Education program. The study will assess feasibility and acceptability, along with preliminary effects on pain, function, mood, sleep, and physical performance, using questionnaires and assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and three months later. Participants will wear an activity monitor for eight weeks to capture activity and engagement. The trial will also inform recruitment, retention, and adherence to the intervention. The aim is to see if PRT, which targets central pain processing and fear of pain, could be a non-invasive option for managing chronic low back pain in adults without identifiable structural pathology.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Working age adults (18-65)
* Male or Female at birth
* Persisting back pain for at least 3 months occurring at least half of the days in the past 6 months
* Pain score of at least 4/10 (on a 10-point rating scale)
* Ability to speak and understand English in order to follow study procedures and engage in study interventions.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Compensation seeking claim/litigation/WSIB claim
* Severe active psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychosis, substance use disorder)
* An active medical issue such as untreated inflammatory disorder (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
* Active cancers affecting the spine or body
* Unexplained unintended weight loss of 20 lbs. or more in the past year
* Inability to control bowel or bladder, function
* Individuals who have received or are currently receiving one-on-one or group psychotherapy for chronic low back pain within the past 2 years (e.g., mindfulness, meditation, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, pain reprocessing therapy, or emotional awareness and exposure therapy).
* Logistical or technical barriers (e.g. transportation challenges, scheduling constraints, or difficulty using fitness trackers

Where it's running

• Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Centre
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Andrea D Furlan, MD PhD — University Health Network, Toronto
• Study coordinator: Roomi Masood
• Email: Pain@uhn.ca
• Phone: +1 416-597-3422

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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.