Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40389709›Full record

ReviewSchmerz (Berlin, Germany)2025

Approaching persistent pain and emotion dysregulation : Development of the hybrid emotion-focused exposure treatment.

Sofia Bergbom, Hedvig Zetterberg, Ida Katrina Flink, Steven James Linton, Katja Boersma

Abstract readReviewCase Reports
In one paragraph

Review in Schmerz (Berlin, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sofia BergbomCenter for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, 70182, Örebro, Sweden. sofia.bergbom@oru.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2283-7552
Hedvig ZetterbergCenter for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, 70182, Örebro, Sweden.
Ida Katrina FlinkCenter for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, 70182, Örebro, Sweden.
Steven James LintonCenter for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, 70182, Örebro, Sweden.
Katja BoersmaCenter for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, 70182, Örebro, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPersistent pain, one of the most common reasons for suffering and health care seeking, often co-occurs with emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Within the Center for Health and Medical Psychology at Örebro University, Sweden, we have developed a new treatment aimed at addressing co-occurring persistent pain and emotional problems: hybrid emotion-focused exposure treatment. The overarching idea behind the treatment is that patients who struggle with comorbid pain and emotional problems need to develop skills in dealing with emotions as well as pain. With better skills in tolerating and soothing difficult emotions, patients will be more able to approach previously avoided stimuli and situations, such as movements, activities and social interaction.

objectivesThis review aims to delineate the development of the hybrid emotion-focused exposure treatment. It begins by outlining the theoretical background, then proceeds to describe the techniques, discuss the evidence and conclude with an illustrative case example.

resultsThus far, the treatment has been tested in a single-case study and a randomized controlled trial with promising outcomes. Overall, the hybrid treatment seems to have a good effect on patients' depressive symptoms and pain interference. The treatment is currently being implemented, and the implementation process evaluated, in primary and specialist care across Sweden.

conclusionsThe hybrid emotion-focused exposure treatment seems to be a well-suited treatment for people with a high burden of persistent pain and emotional difficulties. There is good reason to implement the treatment in clinical practice and continue evaluating treatment effects across different contexts.

Indexed as

Affective SymptomsAnxiety DisordersChronic PainDepressive DisorderEmotion-Focused TherapyImplosive TherapyComorbidityHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSwedenChronic painDepressionEmotion regulationPsychological distressTreatment implementation

Identifiers

PMID40389709
PMCPMC12279589

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.