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CBT-CP for Veterans With SMI

Exploring the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain in Veterans With Serious Mental Illness

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), a talk therapy that helps people manage long-term pain. It is for Veterans with serious mental illness and long-term low back pain. Researchers will study how the therapy affects daily activities, quality of life, pain levels, and mental health symptoms.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain has a highly negative impact on Veterans, especially those with serious mental illness (SMI). Chronic musculoskeletal pain leads to poorer mental and physical health-related functioning, representing a critical obstacle to rehabilitation and recovery for SMI Veterans. Despite known high prevalence rates of chronic pain in SMI populations, there is little research to evaluate nonpharmacological pain management strategies in this population. This study aims to address this research and clinical gap by testing the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) - a VA evidence-based psychotherapy for chronic pain - in Veterans with SMI and chronic low back pain. The study will primarily evaluate the impact of CBT-CP on pain-related functioning, quality of life, and pain severity. This study will also examine relationships between pain and mental health symptoms, and how these relationships may change with CBT-CP completion.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Have long-term back pain listed in your medical record.
  • Score 4 or higher on the PEG-3 survey for pain level or how much pain affects daily life.
  • Have a serious mental illness listed in your medical record: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression with psychosis (such as seeing or hearing things that are not there).
  • Be age 18 or older.
  • Be enrolled in outpatient care at a VISN 5 health care facility when you agree to join. Outpatient care does not require an overnight stay.
  • Have regular access to a phone.
  • Be able to understand and sign a form agreeing to join the study.

Who can't join

  • Have moderate to severe alcohol or drug use that your care provider says would affect participation or require more care.
  • Be receiving one-on-one CBT-CP now, or have received it in the past 12 months.
  • Have a current short-term pain problem, medical condition, or trouble moving that would prevent you from doing therapy activities, such as a walking program. This includes being unable to walk one city block.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Have chronic back pain, per medical record * Have a PEG-3 rating of 4 or greater for pain severity or interference * Meet criteria for an SMI diagnosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression with psychosis) per medical record * 18 years of age or older * Enrolled in outpatient programming within a VISN 5 health care facility at time of consent * Have regular access to a telephone * Capacity to sign informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Are engaging in moderate-to-severe substance use that would impact their ability to participate and/or would require a higher level of care (as determined by treating provider) * Engagement in individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), whether currently or in the past 12 months * Have a current acute pain condition, medical condition, or limited mobility (i.e., unable to walk one city block) that would interfere with their ability to engage in CBT-CP interventions (e.g., activity pacing/walking program)

Study sites (1)

MD