Pain and Emotion Therapy Trial
What is the research study about?
Chronic pain is more than a painful experience, it is highly emotional. People with chronic pain consistently report increasing and uncontrollable levels of anger, worry, fear and sadness. These negative emotional states contribute to a cycle of worsening pain and emotional difficulties including anxiety and depression.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) are investigating an online emotional recovery program for chronic pain.
What does the research involve?
We will investigate whether a new approach to pain management, an online skills training program in emotional regulation, can help people with chronic pain manage the physical and emotional aspects of their pain.
Pain and Emotion Therapy is a 9 to 12-week psychological intervention, involving eight 60 to 90 minute sessions over the internet using Zoom, and daily training using a web app to watch videos and complete tasks on a smart phone. Participation also means completing a series of questionnaires, before and after the therapy, six and 12 months later, meaning that the trial will be completed in approximately 12 months.
The Participant Information Statement (PIS) explains the trial in detail.
We will begin recruiting for the next phase of this trial in 2026. If you would like to register your interest to be contacted when recruitment begins and to receive details about the trial and participation please complete the form.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our research team: neurorecoveryresearch@unsw.edu.au.
This trial has been approved by the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics approval: HC220078)