Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42121176›Full record

ArticleTrials2026

Digital cognitive behavioral therapy and peer support for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease and chronic pain: study protocol of a parallel, three-arm, randomized controlled trial (PRESENCE).

Julia A O'Brien, Alicia B Colvin, Ana Radovic, Olubusola B Oluwole, Wally R Smith, Tonya M Palermo, Bruce L Rollman, Carlton Dampier, William Zempsky, Laura M DeCastro and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06374238 (Peer Support for Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Sickle Cell Pain), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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.

NCT06374238 narecruitingnot on this map

Peer Support for Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Sickle Cell Pain: Promoting Engagement in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of PittsburghRan2025 to 2028Enrolled470ConditionsPain, Sickle Cell DiseaseArmsCBT+ Health coach, CBT w/o Health Coach ( self-guided), Usual Care
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Julia A O'BrienDepartment of Acute and Tertiary Care, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3208-3344
Alicia B ColvinSchool of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
Ana RadovicDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
Olubusola B OluwoleDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
Wally R SmithDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
Tonya M PalermoDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Bruce L RollmanDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
Carlton DampierSchool of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.
William ZempskyDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Connecticut Children's, Hartford, USA.
Laura M DeCastroDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
Jennifer StinsonLawrence S. Bloomberg, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Charles R JonassaintDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA. cjonassaint@pitt.edu.

Funding

Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award (U Component)UL1TR001863 · NCATS · YALE UNIVERSITY · PI John H. Krystal, LUCILA OHNO-MACHADO · 2016 to 2026
$102.9M
Pilot Project for the DTMI CRA ProgramUL1RR024128 · NCRR · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI CALIFF, ROBERT M · 2006 to 2010
$48.1M
Statistics and Data Management Center-CSCC SupplementU54HL070587 · NHLBI · RHO FEDERAL SYSTEMS DIVISION, INC. · PI KESLER, KAREN · 2003 to 2011
$17.9M
Data Coordinating Center for the Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Research NetworkU10HL083721 · NHLBI · NEW ENGLAND RESEARCH INSTITUTES, INC. · PI MCKINLAY, SONJA M · 2006 to 2008
$12.6M
Storage Lesion in Banked Blood Due to Disruption of Nitric Oxide HomeostasisR01HL098032 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Mark T Gladwin · 2009 to 2026
$12.5M
SICKLE CELL SCHOLAR PLANU54HL070583 · NHLBI · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL &RES CTR AT OAKLAND · PI VICHINKSY, ELLIOTT P. · 2003 to 2010
$12.0M
HEAL Clinical Coordinating Resource Center for the Pain Management Effectiveness Research NetworkU24TR004314 · NCATS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI BENJAMIN, DANIEL K., GREENBERG, RACHEL G · 2022 to 2025
$10.8M
Vascular Targeting Genomic & Genetic Strategies for Acute Chest SyndromeR01HL111656 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI Roberto F. Machado · 2013 to 2026
$7.9M
Peer suppoRt for adolescents and Emerging adults with Sickle cell pain: promoting ENgagement in Cognitive behavioral thErapyUH3HL165839 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Alicia Colvin, BRUCE Lawrence ROLLMAN · 2024 to 2026
$5.6M
SECONDARY HEMOCHROMATOSIS IN BETA THALASSEMIA AND SCDR01DK057778 · NIDDK · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL &RES CTR AT OAKLAND · PI PORTER, JOHN BROOKE, VICHINSKY, ELLIOTT P · 2000 to 2010
$1.8M
Peer suppoRt for adolescents and Emerging adults with Sickle cell pain: promoting ENgagement in Cognitive behavioral thErapyUG3HL165839 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI COLVIN, ALICIA, JONASSAINT, CHARLES RICHARD · 2023 to 2023
$819k
Hematopoietic Cell Therapy for Young Adults with Severe Sickle Cell DiseaseR34HL108761 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI KRISHNAMURTI, LAKSHMANAN, WALTERS, MARK C · 2011 to 2013
$734k
AHRQ HHS R21 HS017645NCATS NIH HHS U24TR001608; U24TR001597; U24TR001579; U24TR001609NCATS NIH HHS U24 TR004314NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001863NCRR NIH HHS UL1 RR024128NHLBI NIH HHS K01 HL096434NHLBI NIH HHS K23 HL119557NHLBI NIH HHS K23 HL135396NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL098032NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL111656NHLBI NIH HHS R03 HL145193NHLBI NIH HHS R34 HL108761NHLBI NIH HHS U10 HL083705NHLBI NIH HHS U10 HL083721NHLBI NIH HHS U54 HL070583NHLBI NIH HHS U54 HL070587NHLBI NIH HHS UH3HL165839NIDDK NIH HHS K01 DK065040NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK057778NIH HEAL Initiative UG3HL165839NIH HEAL Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network U24TR004314; U24004315; U24TR004316; U24TR004317NIMHD NIH HHS L60 MD005363NIMH NIH HHS R34 MH125152NINR NIH HHS K99 NR020799NINR NIH HHS K99NR020799
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions globally, with pain being the most prevalent symptom. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with SCD face high rates of pain crises and healthcare encounters. Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shows promise for pain management but faces engagement challenges. The PRESENCE study aims to enhance engagement in and benefit from digital CBT for SCD by adding personalized peer support.

methodsThis multisite, randomized controlled trial is recruiting 470 AYAs (ages 16-30) with SCD who report chronic pain. Participants are randomized 3:3:2 respectively to one of three groups: (1) CBT with peer support (CBT + Peer), (2) CBT alone (CBT), or (3) usual care (UC). Participants are provided access to the study mobile application, which is used for intervention delivery and data collection. Peer support is provided weekly by trained peer coaches who are individuals with lived experience. Evaluations are completed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months post randomization. The primary study aim is to determine whether AYAs receiving any digital CBT have greater reductions in pain intensity and pain interference at 6 months post randomization compared to those receiving UC. The secondary aim is to determine whether CBT + Peer is superior to CBT in reducing pain intensity and interference at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include reductions in mean daily pain intensity, pain days, average weekly opioid dose, emergency department visits, healthcare utilization, internalized stigma, and depression and anxiety symptoms, and improvements in sickle cell self-efficacy. DISCUSSION: Findings from the PRESENCE trial will inform patients, parents, and providers on how digital CBT and peer support will improve pain management. Ultimately, this study will advance our understanding of how digital interventions can be optimized for populations with complex chronic conditions like SCD, where stigma and healthcare navigation can be barriers to effective care delivery. This approach could offer a scalable, accessible, and culturally responsive strategy to improve pain outcomes, reduce opioid reliance, and enhance overall health and well-being for AYAs with SCD.

trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT06374238. Registered on April 2025.

Indexed as

Anemia, Sickle CellChronic PainCognitive Behavioral TherapyPain ManagementPeer GroupSocial SupportAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMobile ApplicationsMulticenter Studies as TopicPain MeasurementResearch DesignTime FactorsAdolescents and young adultsCognitive behavioral therapyDigital healthPain managementPeer supportRandomized controlled trialSickle cell disease

Identifiers

PMID42121176
PMCPMC13335214

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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.