Could emotional awareness therapy soothe mysterious body aches?

NCT ID NCT06631911

Symptom relief Sponsor: Daniel Maroti Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tests whether a short-term group therapy called Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) can help people with persistent physical symptoms like pain or fatigue that have no clear medical cause. The therapy focuses on helping participants identify and express emotions that may be linked to their physical distress. The study enrolls 20 adults in routine psychiatric care who have moderate to severe somatic symptoms and are open to exploring emotional factors. Researchers will measure changes in symptom severity and daily functioning to see if this approach offers relief.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) — a short-term group therapy that helps people identify and express emotions linked to physical symptoms.
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to standard medical care.
What could go wrong: This is a very small pilot study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The therapy may not reduce symptoms for everyone.

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

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

20 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2024

Finished

Dec 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * The participant certifies that they have undergone a medical assessment for their physical symptoms (see separate certificate). * The participant rates either moderate distress from physical symptoms on the PHQ-15 questionnaire (over 10 points) or significant distress from a single physical symptom (at least 2 points for that symptom). * The participant expresses interest in exploring whether emotional factors, such as stress, may contribute to their symptom profile. * Any prescribed medications must have been stable for at least one month. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants suffer from ongoing substance abuse (alcohol or drugs) or are assessed to have severe mental health issues (psychotic disorders, moderate to high suicide risk, antisocial personality disorder, etc.). * Participants are currently prescribed medications that are clearly addictive and sedative in nature (e.g., benzodiazepines). * Participants are involved in other psychological treatments focused on physical symptoms. However, other psychological treatments are permitted as long as the supportive therapy does not occur more than once a month. * Participants do not have sufficient proficiency in the Swedish language. Please note that it is the chief physician of each respective research sponsor who, based on collected anamnesis and self-assessment information, makes the final decision regarding whether a participant should be included or excluded from the research project.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

postpoliomyelitis syndrome somatization disorder somatoform disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Functional somatic disorder Functional somatic syndromes Persistent physical symptoms (PPS) Somatic symptom disorder (DSM-5)

Could emotional awareness therapy soothe mysterious body aches?

What the study statuses mean