NCT06865560

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder - A Pilot Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Michigan · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study is intended to test whether a group-based Zoom behavioral treatment can help adults with chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) learn effective strategies for reducing pain, disability and other problems that can come with these conditions (such as depression, anxiety, and difficulty managing emotions).

Detailed description

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) is a behavioral therapy that focuses on reducing chronic pain by helping people work on the effects of stress, trauma, and emotions that they have experienced in their lives. It is delivered in group sessions of 5-7 individuals by trained therapists who treat emotions or problems in relationships to reduce chronic pain. Pain decreases through increased recognition and expression of emotions, and learning to feel safe in the presence of emotions. The primary aim of the study is to demonstrate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the proposed EAET intervention in adults with chronic pain and opioid use disorder.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Opioid Use Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)	A validated, 8-week, group-based telehealth-based behavioral intervention for chronic pain. Session content will include pain neuroscience education, emotion-focused expressive writing, in-vivo emotional expression practices, self-compassion and forgiveness exercises, and assertive communication strategies. Participants will also be provided handouts and pre-recorded guided imagery and cognitive exercises that they can use to facilitate between-session practices.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-03
• Primary completion: 2026-10-01
• Completion: 2027-01-01
• First posted: 2025-03-10
• Last updated: 2025-10-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States