Understanding pain triggers in young adults with chronic pain

Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Develop an Adaptive Psychological Intervention for Young Adults With Chronic Pain

Observational Seattle Children's Hospital · NCT06932432

This study is trying to find out what everyday factors make pain worse for young adults aged 18-25 who have had chronic pain since childhood.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 25 Years
SexAll
SponsorSeattle Children's Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Seattle, Washington)
Trial IDNCT06932432 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to identify real-time contextual vulnerabilities that affect pain severity in young adults aged 18-25 with childhood-onset chronic pain. Participants will complete baseline questionnaires to gather information on their medical history, psychological health, and pain characteristics. Over a 28-day period, they will use a mobile app to report dynamic factors influencing their pain on a daily basis. The findings will help inform the development of a just-in-time adaptive intervention for managing chronic pain.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are young adults aged 18-25 with a diagnosis of childhood-onset primary chronic pain.

Not a fit: Patients who are not fluent in English or do not have access to a smartphone and the internet may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more personalized and effective pain management strategies for young adults with chronic pain.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using ecological momentary assessment is gaining traction, this specific application in young adults with chronic pain is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* ages 18-25
* diagnosis of childhood-onset chronic pain who were seen for an initial evaluation at Seattle Children's Hospital outpatient specialty clinics.

Exclusion Criteria:

* not fluent in English
* does not have regular access to the internet and access to a smartphone device (to complete EMA questions)
* presence of chronic disease or serious medical illness (e.g., arthritis, cancer, diabetes)
* serious cognitive impairment or developmental disorder (e.g., autism, intellectual disability)

Where this trial is running

Seattle, Washington

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 PainEMA studychildhood onset chronic painYoung adultCannabis useReal-time predictorsHealth outcomes
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.