Can a smartphone app ease the mental toll of chronic back pain?
NCT ID NCT05194722
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a customized mental health app called Wysa in 30 adults with chronic neck or back pain who also had anxiety or depression. The app uses an AI chatbot and human coaches to deliver therapy and mindfulness tools. Participants used the app for one month, and researchers measured changes in mood and pain interference. The goal was to see if the app is usable and helpful for this group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Wysa mobile app (digital mental health intervention with AI chatbot and human coaching)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a practical, low-cost way to help people with chronic spine pain manage anxiety and depression alongside their physical symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early-stage study with only 30 participants and no control group. The app may not work for everyone, and long-term benefits are unknown.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
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Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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