Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Provided Modest Benefit to Patients with Complex Chronic Pain Conditions

To evaluate nonpharmacologic approaches to managing chronic pain (with the added benefit of reducing opioid use), U.S. investigators identified 850 adults (mean age, 60; two thirds women) with chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions who had been receiving opioid therapy for at least several months through primary care clinics in a large capitated healthcare system. Patients with cancer, end-of-life care, and addiction disorders were excluded. Recruitment preferentially emphasized patients with higher opioid use, benzodiazepine use, and high primary care utilization. Patients were randomized to receive usual care or twelve 90-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that were delivered by an interdisciplinary team of mental heal…