Little is known about the relative effectiveness of available psychological treatments for chronic pain, which patients are most likely to benefit from specific treatments, and what patient-, provider-, and system-level factors represent barriers to patient engagement, participation and sustained benefit in real-world care settings.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain (CBT-CP) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that is effective for reducing pain and improving function for patients with chronic pain. Leveraging technology-based interventions, like interactive voice response (IVR), allows patients to engage in treatment from their home and may improve access to CBT-CP. Prior studies have shown this IVR-based treatment improves pain intensity and pain-related function (including pain-related interference, physical and emotional functioning, sleep quality, and quality of life) – while maintaining the advantages of asynchronous treatment of delivery at the patient’s preferred time and place through a digital media.

The overall goal of this project is to conduct a pragmatic trial to examine the real world effectiveness of an IVR-based form of CBT-CP called Co-operative Pain Education and Self-management (COPES) versus in-person CBT-CP provided by clinicians previously trained through VHA’s evidence based psychotherapy program.