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Online Therapy Targets Emotions to Reduce Chronic Pain, Study Shows

A trial of Pain and Emotion Therapy, developed by UNSW and NeuRA, demonstrates significant improvements in pain and mental health, with a larger trial set for 2026.

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A new study shows that building skills to regulate our emotions can significantly reduce the intensity of chronic pain
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Overview

  • Pain and Emotion Therapy, an online program focusing on emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, has shown measurable benefits for chronic pain sufferers in a randomized controlled trial.
  • Participants in the trial reported a clinically meaningful reduction in pain intensity, improved emotional regulation, and better mental health outcomes at six months compared to standard treatments.
  • The therapy, delivered via eight weekly Zoom sessions with a supporting app and handbook, aims to retrain the brain's response to pain by targeting emotional processing deficits linked to chronic pain.
  • Chronic pain, which affects 20–30% of people globally, is associated with reduced levels of the neurotransmitter GABA in the prefrontal cortex, contributing to emotional dysregulation and worsening symptoms.
  • Following the success of the initial trial, researchers have secured funding for a larger trial involving over 300 participants, scheduled to begin in 2026, with registrations now open online.