Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital

Disqualifiers: Delirium, Dementia, Psychosis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 4 weeks

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a short, three-session program can reduce symptoms of chronic pain and stress from past trauma. The treatment, Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), helps participants understand and express emotions related to pain and stressful experiences. It suits individuals who have experienced chronic pain for at least three months and significant stress or trauma. Participants must speak English, have access to a smartphone or computer, and be able to join virtual sessions. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore a novel therapy that could enhance quality of life.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this therapy is safe for chronic pain?

Research has shown that Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) may help people with chronic pain. Studies have found that EAET can reduce pain, improve movement, and lessen mental health issues. Most patients handle EAET well, as there have been no reports of serious side effects, which reassures those considering joining a trial. This therapy helps people address emotional trauma and stress, which can help reduce pain. Overall, EAET appears to be a safe and effective option for managing chronic pain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) for chronic pain because it offers a fresh approach by focusing on emotional processing rather than just pain symptoms. Unlike standard treatments such as medications or physical therapies that directly target pain, EAET emphasizes understanding and expressing emotions related to trauma, which may contribute to pain relief. This approach could potentially provide long-lasting relief by addressing the emotional roots of chronic pain, offering a complementary or alternative option to existing treatments.

What evidence suggests that Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy might be an effective treatment for chronic pain?

Research has shown that Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), which participants in this trial will receive, can be very helpful for people with chronic pain. Studies have found that EAET often reduces pain more effectively than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In one study, 63% of participants who tried EAET experienced a significant drop in their pain, with a decrease of at least 30%. EAET has also improved the well-being of individuals with conditions like fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain. These findings suggest that EAET can be a strong option for managing both pain and emotional stress. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who suffer from chronic pain and have a history of stressful experiences or trauma. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants would need to meet certain health conditions and agree to the study's procedures.

Inclusion Criteria

English fluency

I have been experiencing pain for 3 months or more.

History of psychosocial trauma or stressful experience (Adverse Childhood Events questionnaire [ACEs] score of ≥ 3 OR Trauma History Questionnaire Score [THQ] of ≥ 2)

Exclusion Criteria

I cannot attend three weekly sessions.

I do not have conditions like delirium or dementia that would stop me from following the study's procedures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a brief, three-session program aimed at reducing symptoms related to chronic pain and stressful experiences/trauma

4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)

Trial Overview The trial is testing Trauma Focused Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) over three sessions to see if it can reduce symptoms related to both chronic pain and past trauma or stressful experiences.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Brief Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,694

Recruited

14,790,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11911693/

Emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) for ... Three recent trials have shown that compared with CBT, EAET resulted in greater improvements in pain intensity23,25 among people with chronic ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819961

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy vs CBT for ... Moreover, 63% of EAET participants had clinically significant (at least 30%) posttreatment pain reduction vs only 17% in CBT. Meaning These ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07218757

Phase 1 Pilot of a Pragmatic Trial of EAET for Veterans ... EAET has helped people feel less pain, move better, and experience fewer mental health symptoms. Because of these strong results, the U.S. ...

4. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00482-025-00878-6

To feel is to heal—introduction to Emotional Awareness ... Conclusion. EAET is particularly effective for treating chronic (primary) pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain. However ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2022.1028561/full

“Pain, Stress, and Emotions”: Uncontrolled trial of a single- ... A growing body of evidence from trauma- and emotion-focused interventions for chronic pain suggests the possibility of enhanced effects (6–8).

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9715975/

“Pain, Stress, and Emotions”: Uncontrolled trial of a single ... A growing body of evidence from trauma- and emotion-focused interventions for chronic pain suggests the possibility of enhanced effects (6–8).

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399922003531

Internet-based emotional awareness and expression ... Primary outcomes were reductions of somatic symptoms (PHQ-15) and pain intensity (BPI-4) at post-treatment, with a 4-month evaluation of effect duration. We ...

8. bmjopen.bmj.com bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e093102

study protocol for a single-arm feasibility clinical trial EAET is a newly developed psychological intervention designed to treat chronic pain by helping patients process psychological trauma and conflict to reduce ...