SynthesisPloS one2018
The effectiveness of various computer-based interventions for patients with chronic pain or functional somatic syndromes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 41 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Pre-op CBT to Reduce the Risk for Development of Chronic Post-surgical Pain in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty
MOBACT: An Internet-Based Guided Self-Help Intervention Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain
Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Design and implementation of online acceptance and commitment therapy with enhanced therapist support for chronic low back pain (ACT for PAIN).Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) · 2025Trial
- Lessons Learned from an Attempted Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial for Improvement of Chronic Pain-Associated Disability in Green Professions: Long-Term Effectiveness of a Guided Online-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (PACT-A).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- The Effect of Adjunct Telephone Support on Adherence and Outcomes of the Reboot Online Pain Management Program: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Sustainability of Improvements in Adaptive Coping Following Mind-Body and Activity Training for Chronic Pain.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2021Trial
- Predictors of adherence to an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program for individuals with chronic pain and comorbid psychological distress.BMC psychology · 2021Trial
- Health care providers' experiences of pain management and attitudes towards digitally supported self-management interventions for chronic pain: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2021Trial
- Patients' experiences of internet-based Acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: a qualitative study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2020Trial
- A Smartphone-Based Health Care Chatbot to Promote Self-Management of Chronic Pain (SELMA): Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Trial
- Feasibility and acceptability of a guided internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention (MobACT) for adults with chronic pain in Italy: A pilot mixed-methods randomized controlled trial.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- The Role of Psychological Flexibility in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Persistent Physical Symptoms Associated With Indoor Environment and Chronic Fatigue - 9-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Guided versus unguided internet-administered emotional awareness and expression therapy (I-EAET) for patients with persistent physical symptoms: A randomized trial.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- Work Ability and Functioning Among Individuals with Persistent Indoor Environment-Related Symptoms or Chronic Fatigue: Nine-Month Follow-Up of a Web-Based Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2026Article
- An internet-based cognitive-behavioral self-management intervention for patients with hand osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia - Two randomized controlled trials.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a guided internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention (MobACT) for adults with Chronic Pain in Italy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- The effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on emotion regulation and coping strategies of women with somatic symptom.Journal of education and health promotion · 2025Article
- Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia comorbid with chronic benign pain - A randomized controlled trial.Internet interventions · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Computer-based interventions target improvement of physical and emotional functioning in patients with chronic pain and functional somatic syndromes. However, it is unclear to what extent which interventions work and for whom. This systematic review and meta-analysis (registered at PROSPERO, 2016: CRD42016050839) assesses efficacy relative to passive and active control conditions, and explores patient and intervention factors. Controlled studies were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Pooled standardized mean differences by comparison type, and somatic symptom, health-related quality of life, functional interference, catastrophizing, and depression outcomes were calculated at post-treatment and at 6 or more months follow-up. Risk of bias was assessed. Sub-group analyses were performed by patient and intervention characteristics when heterogeneous outcomes were observed. Maximally, 30 out of 46 eligible studies and 3,387 participants were included per meta-analysis. Mostly, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapies were identified. Significantly higher patient reported outcomes were found in comparisons with passive control groups (standardized mean differences ranged between -.41 and -.18), but not in comparisons with active control groups (SMD = -.26 - -.14). For some outcomes, significant heterogeneity related to patient and intervention characteristics. To conclude, there is a minority of good quality evidence for small positive average effects of computer-based (cognitive) behavior change interventions, similar to traditional modes. These effects may be sustainable. Indications were found as of which interventions work better or more consistently across outcomes for which patients. Future process analyses are recommended in the aim of better understanding individual chances of clinically relevant outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.