Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
NCT03918642 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA
Optimizing Psychotherapy for Older Veterans With Chronic Pain
A NA study of Musculoskeletal Pain, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development.
- Completed
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 126
- Enrollment target
- 1
- Study location
NCT03918642: Completed NA study of Musculoskeletal Pain, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development.
NCT03918642 is a NA study of Musculoskeletal Pain that has completed, run by VA Office of Research and Development. The registered enrollment target is 126 participants, below the 152-participant average among 37 other Musculoskeletal Pain trials with a reported enrollment target (17% lower). The trial reports 1 study location across 1 state. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.
The verdict
NCT03918642, a NA study of Musculoskeletal Pain, has completed, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development.
- COMPLETED
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 126 participants
- Enrollment target
- 1
- Study location
Study Summary
This study is being performed to compare the effects of two alternate types of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), for chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults. In addition, the investigators will evaluate which patients respond better to each treatment and further investigate how each treatment works. CBT, which focuses on improving coping skills for pain, is the standard form of psychotherapy offered at VA. EAET instead focuses on understanding how life stress, relationships, and emotions may cause and perpetuate pain. The investigators are performing the study because pain is a large problem among Veterans. Studies show that chronic pain affects as many as 50% of male Veterans and 75% of female Veterans. The investigators are focusing on older adult Veterans because they have the highest rates of chronic pain at VA, perhaps as high as 80%. The investigators are looking at psychotherapy in this study because VA, the Department of Defense, and the CDC recently recommended psychosocial treatments, such as psychotherapy, as first treatments for chronic pain, along with medications other than opioids (e.g., oxycodone). However, only one form of psychotherapy, CBT, is currently available in clinical practice at VA, and this study may provide evidence for making EAET available to Veterans as well.
Primary Outcome
Average of 4 self report items: current pain, worst pain over the last 7 days, least pain over the last 7 days, and average pain over the last 7 days. Each item is scored 0-10 (0 = no pain; 10 = pain as bad as can be), yielding a total score between 0 and 10 with higher scores indicating a worse outcome.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy
- BEHAVIORAL Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Study Locations (1)
California
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA - West Los Angeles
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 126 participants |
| Start Date | 2019-05-16 |
| Est. Completion | 2023-09-14 |
| Phase | NA |
What the finished NCT03918642 record still lists
NCT03918642 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registered 126 participants enrollment target is mid-sized for trials with a published cap, below the 152-participant average among 37 other Musculoskeletal Pain trials with a reported enrollment target (17% lower).
The record links to 1 condition, with Musculoskeletal Pain appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions - of which Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy is the first listed.
NCT03918642 reports a single indexed study location in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03918642 about?
NCT03918642 is a clinical study titled "Optimizing Psychotherapy for Older Veterans With Chronic Pain". This study is being performed to compare the effects of two alternate types of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), for chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults. In addition, the investigators will evaluate which patients respond ...
What is the current status of trial NCT03918642?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 126 participants. The study started on 2019-05-16. Estimated completion is 2023-09-14.
What conditions does trial NCT03918642 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Musculoskeletal Pain.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03918642?
The interventions under investigation include: Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (BEHAVIORAL), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (BEHAVIORAL).
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03918642?
This trial is sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development, which has 1,668 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Where is trial NCT03918642 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across California. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
Similar trials for Musculoskeletal Pain
Matched on the same primary condition, ranked to surface studies in the same phase first, then by recruiting status, no relevance scoring or editorial curation.
Where NCT03918642's enrollment target sits among peer trials
126 15th of 37 higher than 23 of 37 other Musculoskeletal Pain trials
participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other Musculoskeletal Pain trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08
-
Group Medical Visits and Chiropractic Care for Older Adults With Chronic Spine Pain
RECRUITING · NA
-
Virtual Reality (VR) Self-Hypnosis Software
RECRUITING · NA
-
The PROACTIVE Study for Black Elders
RECRUITING · NA
-
Neural Mechanisms of Light Driven Analgesia
RECRUITING · NA
-
Mechanisms and Modulation of Pain Modulatory Capacity
RECRUITING · NA
-
Equipping Patients Using Interventions for Pain and Depression
RECRUITING · NA
Nationwide trials with similar profiles
Cross-condition peers matched on enrollment target and registry start date, not the same-condition list above.
Similar enrollment target
- NCT01873131 · 126 participants · NA
A Clinical Trial of Pulsed-dye Laser Versus Timolol Topical Solution Versus Observation on the Growth of Hemangioma in Newborn
- NCT02621645 · 126 participants · Phase 4
TRAP Intervention STudy: Early Versus Late Intervention for Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence
- NCT03838107 · 126 participants
Markers of Trajectory in Pediatric CRPS
- NCT03906422 · 126 participants · NA
Comparison of Patient-reported Pain After Initial Archwire Placement
Similar registry start date
- NCT05962346 · started 2026-12 · NA
Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
- NCT07125183 · started 2026-12 · Phase 2
Study on Efficacy and Tolerability of Weekly Doxorubicin in Elderly Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma
- NCT07292298 · started 2026-11 · Phase 2
Phase 2 Single-Arm Rectal Cancer Brachytherapy for Patients With Low-Lying Residual Adenocarcinoma After Total Neoadjuvant Therapy to Improve Organ Preservation Rates
- NCT04263285 · started 2026-10 · NA
Treatment of Depression Post-SCI