Can talk therapy ease pain in veterans with mental illness? small study hints yes
NCT ID NCT04118283
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help veterans with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder manage chronic pain. 47 veterans took part in a 12-session CBT program designed for chronic pain. The goal was to see if the therapy was acceptable and practical, not to prove it works. Results will guide whether a larger trial is worth doing.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that CBT is a helpful, non-drug option for managing chronic pain in veterans with serious mental illness.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early feasibility study with only 47 participants. It cannot prove the therapy works—only that it might be acceptable and practical to test further.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States