Trial reportEuropean journal of pain (London, England)2025
Individual-Level Effects of a Digital Behavioural Treatment for Chronic Pain: Proof-of-Concept of a Single-Case Experimental Design Study.
Trial report in European journal of pain (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Individual-Level Effects of a Digital Behavioural Treatment for Chronic Pain: Proof-of-Concept of a Single-Case Experimental Design Study.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2025Trial
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nonpharmacological Self-Management Interventions for Persistent Pain: Protocol for Single-Case Experimental Designs.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Anticipated barriers and facilitators of implementing a digital behavioral treatment for chronic pain: a qualitative interview study.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Development of iGET Living, a Digital Graded Exposure Intervention for Youth With Chronic Pain: Multiphase User-Centered Design and Pilot Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Exposure-based Interventions for Chronic Pain and Bodily Symptoms: A Special Interest Meeting Report.Behaviour research and therapy · 2026Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChronic pain affects 20%-30% of the population worldwide, leading to significant distress, disability and financial burden. Pain management strategies focusing on pain reduction have shown limited effects on functioning; however, behavioural treatments aimed at enhancing resilience have demonstrated strong empirical support. Digital solutions offer new opportunities for delivering evidence-based treatments, but evaluation at the individual level is needed. The aim of this study is to examine individual-level treatment effects of a digital behavioural treatment for chronic pain in a heterogeneous sample.
methodsA study with a single-case experimental design (SCED) was conducted with participants (N = 11) experiencing chronic pain (> 3 months) recruited through healthcare. Participants were randomised at baseline (5-10-day A-phase) and completed a 6-module digital treatment based on learning theory and well-established theories applied to chronic pain (6-8-week B-phase), with weekly therapist contact. Digital diaries, prompted twice daily, tracked psychological flexibility and acceptance, pain-related functioning, pain intensity and well-being. Data were analysed using visual analysis and effect size calculations.
resultsN = 11 enrolled and data from n = 10 were analysed (n = 1 refused digital diary, n = 2 partial completers, n = 8 full completers). Pain profiles varied (e.g., chronic migraine, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, etc.). Several participants benefited from the treatment, though results varied across individuals and across outcomes.
conclusionThe digital behavioural treatment showed promise in addressing diverse pain profiles and associated functioning. The variability in responses highlights the benefit of using SCED to explore individual-level effects, thus offering a methodological proof-of-concept. Findings support further development, including tailoring to match individual needs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This proof-of-concept study provides support for the utility of digital behavioural interventions and individual-level evaluation of treatment effects, highlighting the potential of personalised pain treatments. The findings contribute to the growing body of support for digital solutions as effective and accessible approaches to improve functioning and resilience for people with diverse pain experiences.
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Registered trials
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