vEAET-H: a virtual group emotional therapy for chronic pain patients using medical cannabis in Israel

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 feasibility study will deliver an eight-session, group-based Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy in Hebrew via a virtual platform, with one in-person kickoff session at the hospital. Participants will continue their usual medical cannabis treatment and complete questionnaires on pain, mood, sleep, and quality of life to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. The primary outcome is pain severity, with secondary measures of emotional well-being and functional impact. The study aims to determine if the virtual format is workable in Israel and whether initial signals justify a larger trial. Recruitment targets adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain who are treated with medical cannabis and fluent in Hebrew.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed with any chronic musculoskeletal pain (≥ three months in duration) including back, neck, limb or pelvic pain, tension headache and fibromyalgia;
2. Treated with medical Cannabis;
3. Physical and mental ability to participate in group discussions;
4. Fluent in reading and speaking Hebrew.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chronic pain conditions not classified as chronic primary pain. These include neuropathies such as carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathy, and neuralgia;
2. Primary headache disorders such as cluster headaches;
3. Cancer-related pain;
4. Burn- or infection-related chronic pain;
5. Autoimmune diseases typically associated with pain, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sickle cell disease;
6. Inflammatory systemic diseases causing pain, including osteoarthritis or gout.
7. Severe mental illness or psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder not controlled with medications, active suicide or violence risk in the past year, active severe alcohol or substance use disorder, self-reported use of intravenous drugs.
8. Participant with a significant negative life event within the past six months, such as the death of a close person, significant loss of income, or another traumatic or highly stressful event, which may substantially affect the participant's emotional state, safety, or ability to participate in the intervention;
9. Current participation in another psychological or behavioral therapy, program, or clinical study.

Where it's running

• Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital
  Tel Aviv, Israel Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Keren Sivan-Speier, M.D. — Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital
• Study coordinator: Shahar Lev-Ari, Ph.D.
• Email: leva@tauex.tau.ac.il
• Phone: +972-36407742

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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.