NCT07137715 Psychological Options for Wellness and Recovery (POWeR) Trial for Veterans With Chronic Back/Neck Pain
| NCT ID | NCT07137715 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver |
| Condition | Chronic Pain |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 360 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-03-27 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 360 participants in total. It began in 2026-03-27 with a primary completion date of 2028-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which treatment works better for veterans with chronic neck or back pain. This study is comparing three treatments: Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and usual care (whatever a person is already doing to cope with their pain). The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Which treatment works better for lowering pain: PRT, CBT, or usual care? 2. How do the effects of PRT compare with CBT and usual care in terms of pain relief and other factors such as emotional functioning, quality of life, anxiety, and pain medication use? Participants will: 1. Be randomly assigned to receive either PRT, CBT, or usual care. 2. Complete questionnaires about their pain and health. 3. If in the PRT or CBT group, have nine weekly therapy sessions over video calls with a therapist.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (18 and older) * Be veterans * Have a history of chronic back or neck pain defined as pain at least half the days of the last 6 months. * Have moderate or greater pain, defined as pain intensity ≥4 in the past week Exclusion Criteria: Clinical presentation suggestive of back pain that is secondary or peripheral in nature, including self-reported leg pain that is worse than back pain (indicative of radiculopathy or sciatica), spine surgery within the past 6 months, fall, motor vehicle accident or other trauma related to back pain in the past 6 months, back pain due to an inflammatory disorder, infection, or malignant etiology as determined per medical provider review, known sensory abnormality in trunk or legs, recent large (\>20 lbs) unexplained weight loss, difficulty controlling bowels (to screen out cauda equina syndrome), and self-reported diagnoses of specific inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, scleroderma, Lupus, and polymyositis). Additionally, patients who meet any of the following criteria are ineligible due to anticipated difficulties complying with study procedures: * Moderate or severe cognitive impairment * Unstable or severe untreated mental health condition, including active suicidal ideation * Unstable or end-stage medical disease including active cancer * Back surgery planned within the next 6 months * Inability to communicate by telephone or video, including inability due to housing instability * Current pain-related litigation outside the VA (service connection-related applications are not excluded) * Having engaged in CBT or PRT for chronic pain in the past 6 months * Participants may be excluded based on the discretion of PIs Ashar and Frank
Contact & Investigator
Jonathan K. Ashar, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Colorado, Denver
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07137715 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Chronic Pain. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07137715 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07137715 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at yoni.ashar.@cuanschutz.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07137715 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Aurora, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07137715 clinical trial?
NCT07137715 is sponsored by University of Colorado, Denver. The principal investigator is Jonathan K. Ashar, PhD at University of Colorado, Denver. The trial plans to enroll 360 participants.
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