New study: can talk therapy ease chronic pain in veterans with mental illness?
NCT ID NCT06758414
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help veterans with serious mental illness (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) who also have chronic low back pain. Researchers will measure changes in pain interference, quality of life, and pain severity after 12 therapy sessions. The goal is to find a non-drug way to improve daily functioning for this often-overlooked group.
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 it works, this could provide an effective non-drug pain management option for veterans with serious mental illness, improving their daily functioning and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage study (190 participants) focused on a specific group, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy requires commitment to 12 sessions, and benefits may vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 190 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2026
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
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)
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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