Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Pain Reprocessing Therapy for Veterans With Chronic Neck/Back Pain

The investigators are conducting a trial that evaluates the feasibility of telehealth group pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), with no comparison group, for the treatment of chronic back pain in a population of veterans. PRT is a psychotherapy for chronic pain that aims to help patients reconceptualize their pain as a non-dangerous signal. It has been shown to be effective in a previous RCT (n=151).

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Back Pain Back Pain Chronic Pain Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus VA

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

At least 6 months of back pain with last week average back pain at least 4/10
Able to attend at least 7/8 telehealth group sessions
Access to safe living space, quite room, reliable internet, and electronic device that can be used to attend telehealth therapy sessions.

Exclusion criteria

Leg pain that is worse than back pain
Suicide attempt, SI, HI, or inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the past 5 years
Not receiving/has not received disability or workers compensation related to back pain in the past 2 years.
Is not currently involved in litigation regarding chronic back pain.
Current misuse or overuse of alcohol or drugs
Major surgery or other major medical events in the next 6 months
Known vertebral/spinal fracture or tumor.
Back surgery within last 2 years
Difficulty controlling bowel movements
Current or recent diagnosis of cancer
Current or recent diagnosis of severe cardiovascular disease
Unexplained or unintended greater than 20 pound weight loss in the past year
Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, Lupus, polymyositis, or other specific inflammatory disorders

Treatment and study plan

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)

Behavioral

PRT is a psychological intervention for chronic pain patients with a primary nociplastic component. PRT aims to help patients reconceptualize their pain as a non-dangerous signal that is not indicative of tissue pathology or structural abnormality. Through decreasing the threat level of their chronic pain, the pain itself can also resolve.

Primary outcomes

PEG-3 Average Pain in last week

Time frame: Baseline, Post-treatment, and 2-months post-treatment

0-10 scale that asks participant to rate their average pain (0=No pain, 10=Pain as bad as possible) in the last week

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Other

Collaborators

VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System

Registry information

Acronym: ESPRIT

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: May 9, 2024
Registry last updated: Jul 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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