Chronic PainNCT07425691
SPACE for Youth With Chronic Pain
An observational study of Chronic Pain, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a group-based parent training intervention for parents of youth with chronic pain. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in child functional impairment, pain intensity, and parent accommodation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain
- What is being tested?
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - Pain
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 39 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Mar 2026to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 10 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Child
Study population: Children ages 10-17 years old with a chronic pain condition.
Who may be able to join
- Children aged 10-17 with chronic pain (≥3 months) and associated functional impairment
- Parent/guardian living with the child ≥50% of the time
- Parent and child are fluent in English
Who cannot join
- Pain better explained by another medical condition
- History of psychosis, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or intellectual disability (child)
- Current emotional, cognitive, or physical barrier to participation for caregiver, as determined by clinical judgment of study personnel
- Severe psychiatric symptoms requiring immediate intervention
- Ongoing individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for pain
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Stanford Children's Health
Palo Alto, California, 94025
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: Development of a Parent Training Intervention for Pediatric Patients With Pain
The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a group-based parent training intervention for parents of youth with chronic pain. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in child functional impairment, pain intensity, and parent accommodation.
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Being tested
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - Pain
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - PainBehavioural
Also called SPACE
Originally developed for pediatric anxiety disorders, SPACE equips parents to reduce accommodation while maintaining a warm, empathic stance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Youth with chronic pain | Youth with chronic pain will complete questionnaires assessing secondary outcome measures prior to the start of the parent-only group intervention. The parent-only group intervention is 6 weekly, 90 minute sessions held over a secure virtual platform. Sessions will focus on orientation to the group, psychoeducation about pain neuroscience, and the role of parents in pain management, how parents can increase support for their child as well as decrease behaviors that may inadvertently maintain or reinforce pain and pain-related behaviors. Sessions will be recorded to ensure consistency in session content across groups. Homework will be assigned to parents after each session and will be reviewed the following week. Youth with chronic pain will then be asked to complete questionnaires at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow up time points. Questionnaire completion is expected to take about 20 minutes at each time point. | |
| Parents of youth with chronic pain | Parents of youth with chronic pain will complete questionnaires assessing secondary outcome measures prior to the start of the parent-only group intervention.
The parent-only group intervention is 6 weekly, 90 minute sessions held over a secure virtual platform. Sessions will focus on orientation to the group, psychoeducation about pain neuroscience, and the role of parents in pain management, how parents can increase support for their child as well as decrease behaviors that may inadvertently maintain or reinforce pain and pain-related behaviors. Sessions will be recorded to ensure consistency in session content across groups. Homework will be assigned to parents after each session and will be reviewed the following week.
Parents of youth with chronic pain will be asked to complete questionnaires at the end of the intervention (45 minutes), and repeat some of the questionnaires at follow up time points (35-40 minutes). Receives: Behavioral: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - Pain |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility - Acceptance
Feasibility of intervention as measured by the mean of number of sessions attended. Local session documents will track each session.
Measured: From enrollment through the end of the treatment (6-8 weeks)
Acceptability - Client Satisfaction
Client satisfaction with the intervention will be measured by the patient-reported Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire is an 8-item, widely used, self-report measure for assessing general client satisfaction with mental health services. It uses a 4-point Likert scale for each question. This will be administered to parents, who received the intervention. Total scores range from 8 to 32, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.
Parents of youth with chronic pain will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention.
Measured: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Acceptability - Provider
Provider will assess the acceptability of the measure by the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher acceptability.
Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention.
Measured: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Provider Intervention Appropriateness
Provider will assess the appropriateness of the measure by the Intervention Appropriateness Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher degree of appropriateness.
Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention
Measured: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Feasibility - Provider
Provider will assess the feasibility of the measure by the Feasibility of Intervention Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher degree of feasibility.
Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention
Measured: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (24)
Anxiety - Child
This 8-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) - Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Anxiety - Child
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Anxiety - Child
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Child
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Parent
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Anxiety - Parent
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Anxiety - Parent
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Parent
This 8-item PROMIS Anxiety scale measures the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents per self- and parent-report. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1, "never" to 5, "almost always"). It is part of the PROMIS pediatric system and allows for reliable, standardized comparisons across studies. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Depression - Child
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Child report form is 8 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Depression - Child
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Child report form is 8 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Depression - Child
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Child report form is 8 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Depression - Child
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Child report form is 8 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Youth will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Depression - Parent
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Parent report form is 6 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Depression - Parent
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Parent report form is 6 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Depression - Parent
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Parent report form is 6 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Depression - Parent
The PROMIS Depression Short Form evaluates depressive symptoms, including sadness and unhappiness, in pediatric populations in the past 7 days. The Parent report form is 6 items. Responses are measured on a 5 point likert scale (1 = never to 5 =almost always). It provides a standardized measure of affective functioning relevant to chronic pain and related conditions. Total scores are calculated by summing each item response. Total scores are then translated into a T-score for each participant. The T-score rescales the raw score into a standardized T-score with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore, a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Parent Stress
The Parent Stress Scale is an 18-item self-report scale. Items represent positive (e.g., emotional benefits, personal development) and negative (e.g., demands on resources, restrictions) themes of parenthood. Respondents agree or disagree in terms of their typical relationship with their child. Responses are measured on a 5-point likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores on the scale range from 18 - 90. The higher the score, the higher the measured level of Parental stress.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Parent Stress
The Parent Stress Scale is an 18-item self-report scale. Items represent positive (e.g., emotional benefits, personal development) and negative (e.g., demands on resources, restrictions) themes of parenthood. Respondents agree or disagree in terms of their typical relationship with their child. Responses are measured on a 5-point likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). Overall possible scores on the scale range from 18 - 90. A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores on the scale range from 18 - 90. The higher the score, the higher the measured level of Parental stress.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Parent Stress
The Parent Stress Scale is an 18-item self-report scale. Items represent positive (e.g., emotional benefits, personal development) and negative (e.g., demands on resources, restrictions) themes of parenthood. Respondents agree or disagree in terms of their typical relationship with their child. Responses are measured on a 5-point likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores on the scale range from 18 - 90. The higher the score, the higher the measured level of Parental stress.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Parent Stress
The Parent Stress Scale is an 18-item self-report scale. Items represent positive (e.g., emotional benefits, personal development) and negative (e.g., demands on resources, restrictions) themes of parenthood. Respondents agree or disagree in terms of their typical relationship with their child. Responses are measured on a 5-point likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores on the scale range from 18 - 90. The higher the score, the higher the measured level of Parental stress.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Parent Accommodation
The Inventory of Parent Accommodations to Children's Symptoms (IPACS) is an 11-item parent report form that assesses the degree to which parents accommodate their child's pain. Responses are captured on a 5-point likert scale (0, "never" to 4, "always"). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores range from 0 to 44 with higher scores suggesting greater parental accommodation.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Baseline
Parent Accommodation
The Inventory of Parent Accommodations to Children's Symptoms (IPACS) is an 11-item parent report form that assesses the degree to which parents accommodate their child's pain. Responses are captured on a 5-point likert scale (0, "never" to 4, "always"). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores range from 0 to 44 with higher scores suggesting greater parental accommodation.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Parent Accommodation
The Inventory of Parent Accommodations to Children's Symptoms (IPACS) is an 11-item parent report form that assesses the degree to which parents accommodate their child's pain. Responses are captured on a 5-point likert scale (0, "never" to 4, "always"). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores range from 0 to 44 with higher scores suggesting greater parental accommodation.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 1 month Post-Treatment
Parent Accommodation
The Inventory of Parent Accommodations to Children's Symptoms (IPACS) is an 11-item parent report form that assesses the degree to which parents accommodate their child's pain. Responses are captured on a 5-point likert scale (0, "never" to 4, "always"). A total score is calculated by summing each item score. Overall possible scores range from 0 to 44 with higher scores suggesting greater parental accommodation.
Parents will complete this questionnaire at baseline, post-treatment, as well as one- and three-month follow up time points.
Measured: 3 months Post-Treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2026
- Study start13 Mar 2026
- Primary completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Stanford Children's Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Christina Murphy, PhD, Principal investigator, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07425691
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25-023906
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development of a Parent Training Intervention for Pediatric Patients With Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07425691
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 25-023906
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Stanford Children's Health
- Study start
- 13 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary objective is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a group-based parent training intervention for parents of youth with chronic pain. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in child functional impairment, pain intensity, and parent accommodation.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Youth with chronic pain | – | –Youth with chronic pain will complete questionnaires assessing secondary outcome measures prior to the start of the parent-only group intervention. The parent-only group intervention is 6 weekly, 90 minute sessions held over a secure virtual platform. Sessions will focus on orientation to the group, psychoeducation about pain neuroscience, and the role of parents in pain management, how parents can increase support for their child as well as decrease behaviors that may inadvertently maintain or reinforce pain and pain-related behaviors. Sessions will be recorded to ensure consistency in session content across groups. Homework will be assigned to parents after each session and will be reviewed the following week. Youth with chronic pain will then be asked to complete questionnaires at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow up time points. Questionnaire completion is expected to take about 20 minutes at each time point. |
| Parents of youth with chronic pain | – | Behavioral: Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - PainParents of youth with chronic pain will complete questionnaires assessing secondary outcome measures prior to the start of the parent-only group intervention. The parent-only group intervention is 6 weekly, 90 minute sessions held over a secure virtual platform. Sessions will focus on orientation to the group, psychoeducation about pain neuroscience, and the role of parents in pain management, how parents can increase support for their child as well as decrease behaviors that may inadvertently maintain or reinforce pain and pain-related behaviors. Sessions will be recorded to ensure consistency in session content across groups. Homework will be assigned to parents after each session and will be reviewed the following week. Parents of youth with chronic pain will be asked to complete questionnaires at the end of the intervention (45 minutes), and repeat some of the questionnaires at follow up time points (35-40 minutes). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Children ages 10-17 years old with a chronic pain condition.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Children aged 10-17 with chronic pain (≥3 months) and associated functional impairment
- Parent/guardian living with the child ≥50% of the time
- Parent and child are fluent in English
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Pain better explained by another medical condition
- History of psychosis, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or intellectual disability (child)
- Current emotional, cognitive, or physical barrier to participation for caregiver, as determined by clinical judgment of study personnel
- Severe psychiatric symptoms requiring immediate intervention
- Ongoing individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for pain
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions - PainAlso: SPACEOriginally developed for pediatric anxiety disorders, SPACE equips parents to reduce accommodation while maintaining a warm, empathic stance. | Behavioural | Parents of youth with chronic pain |
Primary outcome
Feasibility - Acceptance
Time frame: From enrollment through the end of the treatment (6-8 weeks)
Feasibility of intervention as measured by the mean of number of sessions attended. Local session documents will track each session.
Acceptability - Client Satisfaction
Time frame: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Client satisfaction with the intervention will be measured by the patient-reported Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire is an 8-item, widely used, self-report measure for assessing general client satisfaction with mental health services. It uses a 4-point Likert scale for each question. This will be administered to parents, who received the intervention. Total scores range from 8 to 32, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Parents of youth with chronic pain will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention.
Acceptability - Provider
Time frame: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Provider will assess the acceptability of the measure by the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher acceptability. Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention.
Provider Intervention Appropriateness
Time frame: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Provider will assess the appropriateness of the measure by the Intervention Appropriateness Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher degree of appropriateness. Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention
Feasibility - Provider
Time frame: Post-treatment (6-8 weeks)
Provider will assess the feasibility of the measure by the Feasibility of Intervention Measure. This 4-item measure is measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree). Scoring involves calculating the mean of the 4 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating higher degree of feasibility. Providers will be asked to complete this measure at the end of the intervention
24 secondary outcomes
Anxiety - Child
Time frame: Baseline
Anxiety - Child
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Anxiety - Child
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Child
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Parent
Time frame: Baseline
Anxiety - Parent
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Anxiety - Parent
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Anxiety - Parent
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Depression - Child
Time frame: Baseline
Depression - Child
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Depression - Child
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Depression - Child
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Depression - Parent
Time frame: Baseline
Depression - Parent
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Depression - Parent
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Depression - Parent
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Parent Stress
Time frame: Baseline
Parent Stress
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Parent Stress
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Parent Stress
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Parent Accommodation
Time frame: Baseline
Parent Accommodation
Time frame: Post-Treatment (6-8 weeks)
Parent Accommodation
Time frame: 1 month Post-Treatment
Parent Accommodation
Time frame: 3 months Post-Treatment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
Related trials for Chronic Pain
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Adding Vagal Neuromodulation to Manual Therapy in Women With Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) OR Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Manuel Therapy
Not yet recruitingPhase 3
Veterans' Intervention Blending NeuRomodulation and YogA for Chronic Low BackPaiN Treatment: VIBRANT
Chronic Low Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain
Not yet recruitingPhase 2
Psilocybin-Assisted Physical Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain
Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), Physical Therapy
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Music During Walking on Pain and Muscle Activation in People With Chronic Pain Due to Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee Osteoarthritis
Not yet recruitingPhase 2/3
PRP Versus NP Injections for Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain
Discogenic Low Back Pain
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christina Murphy, PhD principal investigator
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Chronic Pain, run by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility - Acceptance (time frame: From enrollment through the end of the treatment (6-8 weeks)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.