Chronic PainNCT07919626
Rewiring the Chronic Pain Experience: Single-Session Model of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) at The Ottawa Hospital
A study testing PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy) in people with Chronic Pain, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to find out if a one-time session of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) intervention improves participant's mood and pain. Participants in this 4 hours session will be 40 patients who've been referred to the The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic (TOHPC) for chronic pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain
- What is being tested?
- PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 16 Oct 2026to 1 Oct 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Minimum age of 18 years or older at time of consent.
- Chronic pain persisting for a minimum of 3 months, consistent with the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of chronic pain.
- Self-reported 1-week average pain intensity score between 4/10 and 9/10 on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)12 at screening.
- o Note: Individuals scoring less than 4/10 or more than 9/10 will be directed to other pain clinic workshops and available resources (e.g., Power Over Pain)
- Referred to TOHPC and triaged by a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician to the "diffuse pain" pathway;
- Completed the initial pain clinic patient education and resource session (PERS) for patients triaged to the "diffuse pain" pathway;
Show all 9Show fewer
- Currently waiting for a 1st consultation with the Nurse Practitioner assigned to the "diffuse pain" pathway.
- Able to read, write, and communicate in English at a level sufficient to engage with research team, the psychoeducational content, and to complete self-report measures.
- Able to attend a single, in-person 4-hour group session at TOHPC in Ottawa on a scheduled weekday.
Who cannot join
- Active mental health symptoms that significantly interfere with the ability to engage with psychoeducational content (e.g., dissociation, active psychosis), or participate in a group setting
- Cognitive impairment that significantly limits the ability to comprehend study information, provide informed consent, or meaningfully engage with psychoeducational content.
- Scheduled for a major surgical procedure within the study timeframe.
- Currently receiving other individual or group psychotherapy that directly targets pain, pain cognitions, or pain-related emotional responses within the 12 weeks prior to enrollment.
- Currently receiving interventional pain management services (e.g., injections, nerve blocks) from another clinic or institution within the 12-week period prior to enrollment through the 3-month follow-up.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, Ontario, K1H8L6
Susan Ward, MSW
About this study
Official title: Rewiring the Chronic Pain Experience: Feasibility and Pilot Testing of a Single-Session, 4-Hour Delivery Model of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH)
The goal of this study is to find out if a one-time session of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) intervention improves participant's mood and pain. Participants in this 4 hours session will be 40 patients who've been referred to the The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic (TOHPC) for chronic pain.
The main questions of this study are:
Read more
- Can we recruit 40 participants within 6 months?
- Do at least 32 participants complete the session and answer follow up questions?
- Does 1 session of PRT have a positive impact on participants' mood and pain?
Participants in this study will:
- Attend 1 session of PRT.
- Answer questions that relate to their experience of pain and their mood. They will answer these questions immediately before/after the session, 1 week after the session, and 1 month after the session.
- After the session, some participants will participate in an interview to talk about their experience.
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Being tested
- PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy)
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy)Behavioural
The intervention involves a single 4-hour PRT in-person group session (up to 20 patients per group) at The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic, delivered by a PRT certified clinician.
The intervention is a brief mindfulness exercise (mindfulness of breath, energy, emotions, thoughts, sensations), followed by 90 minutes of didactic content focused on pain science education and foundation of pain reprocessing therapy. This includes interactive discussions, self-reflection, and skills building. This is followed by a brief exercise called predictive coding where participants are invited to draw a picture representing their pain. The remainder of the session includes gentle movement, somatic tracking, and practices to increase positive affect induction- specifically leaning into positive or neutral sensations and establishing short-term safety behaviours.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) session | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Clinical Effectiveness: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Intensity and Pain Interference
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Brief Pain Inventory (BPI): Participants will localize their pain through a drop down menu, in which they will select the applicable body part(s) where they experience pain. The BPI Pain Intensity and Pain Interference scales will then be administered. The pain intensity subscale includes 4 pain intensity ratings using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0-10) on current pain, average pain, worst pain during the last 7 days and least pain during the last 24 hours. The pain interference subscale includes 7 interference items that ask the patient to respond using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0-10). These items include the effect on general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work (including housework), relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Interview
A random selection of participants will be interviewed regarding their PRT experience.
Measured: Interviews will be conducted within 6 months of participating in the PRT session.
Clinical Effectiveness: Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-10)
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-10): The PSEQ-10 is a validated 10-item tool for assessing the patient's pain self-efficacy or belief in one's capability to perform activities even when undergoing pain. The 10 items ask the patient to rate their confidence in doing activities on a 7-point numerical rating scale (0-6), with higher scores indicating greater confidence.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical Effectiveness: Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) Scale
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) Scale: The PGI-C is a validated single- item self-report measure used to assess a patient's perceived change in overall status following a treatment or intervention. Patients select one of 7 options to describe their experience, ranging from "very much worse" to "very much improved." The PGI-C is widely used in chronic pain research and has demonstrated sensitivity to clinically meaningful change across a range of pain populations.
Measured: 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical Effectiveness: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) PANAS is a validated 20-item self-report measure assessing two distinct dimensions of mood: positive affect and negative affect. Participants rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very slightly or not at all, 5 = extremely), with higher positive affect scores and lower negative affect scores reflecting better emotional well-being. The PANAS has demonstrated strong reliability and validity across clinical populations, including individuals with chronic pain.
Measured: Day of Intervention, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Feasibility of recruitment
- Rates of participant eligibility and consenting will be tracked
- The single session PRT model will be considered feasible if we can recruit our target sample size of 40 participants over a 6-month period.
Measured: Baseline
Rate of participant accrual/completion
- Rates of participant accrual, screening, and 1-week and 1-month assessment completion will be tracked
- The evaluation procedures will be considered feasible if we retain more than 80% of participants at 1-month follow-up.
Measured: Baseline, Day 7, and Day 30
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Nov 2026
- Study start16 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 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 Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Susan Ward, MSW, Principal investigator, The Ottawa Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07919626
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 7131-20260398-01H
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Rewiring the Chronic Pain Experience: Feasibility and Pilot Testing of a Single-Session, 4-Hour Delivery Model of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07919626
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 7131-20260398-01H
- Conditions
- Chronic Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Nov 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 goal of this study is to find out if a one-time session of Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) intervention improves participant's mood and pain. Participants in this 4 hours session will be 40 patients who've been referred to the The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic (TOHPC) for chronic pain.
The main questions of this study are:
- Can we recruit 40 participants within 6 months?
- Do at least 32 participants complete the session and answer follow up questions?
- Does 1 session of PRT have a positive impact on participants' mood and pain?
Participants in this study will:
- Attend 1 session of PRT.
- Answer questions that relate to their experience of pain and their mood. They will answer these questions immediately before/after the session, 1 week after the session, and 1 month after the session.
- After the session, some participants will participate in an interview to talk about their experience.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) session | Experimental | Behavioral: PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Minimum age of 18 years or older at time of consent.
- Chronic pain persisting for a minimum of 3 months, consistent with the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of chronic pain.
- Self-reported 1-week average pain intensity score between 4/10 and 9/10 on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)12 at screening.
- o Note: Individuals scoring less than 4/10 or more than 9/10 will be directed to other pain clinic workshops and available resources (e.g., Power Over Pain)
- Referred to TOHPC and triaged by a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician to the "diffuse pain" pathway;
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Active mental health symptoms that significantly interfere with the ability to engage with psychoeducational content (e.g., dissociation, active psychosis), or participate in a group setting
- Cognitive impairment that significantly limits the ability to comprehend study information, provide informed consent, or meaningfully engage with psychoeducational content.
- Scheduled for a major surgical procedure within the study timeframe.
- Currently receiving other individual or group psychotherapy that directly targets pain, pain cognitions, or pain-related emotional responses within the 12 weeks prior to enrollment.
- Currently receiving interventional pain management services (e.g., injections, nerve blocks) from another clinic or institution within the 12-week period prior to enrollment through the 3-month follow-up.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy)The intervention involves a single 4-hour PRT in-person group session (up to 20 patients per group) at The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic, delivered by a PRT certified clinician. The intervention is a brief mindfulness exercise (mindfulness of breath, energy, emotions, thoughts, sensations), followed by 90 minutes of didactic content focused on pain science education and foundation of pain reprocessing therapy. This includes interactive discussions, self-reflection, and skills building. This is followed by a brief exercise called predictive coding where participants are invited to draw a picture representing their pain. The remainder of the session includes gentle movement, somatic tracking, and practices to increase positive affect induction- specifically leaning into positive or neutral sensations and establishing short-term safety behaviours. | Behavioural | Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) session |
Primary outcome
Clinical Effectiveness: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Intensity and Pain Interference
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Brief Pain Inventory (BPI): Participants will localize their pain through a drop down menu, in which they will select the applicable body part(s) where they experience pain. The BPI Pain Intensity and Pain Interference scales will then be administered. The pain intensity subscale includes 4 pain intensity ratings using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0-10) on current pain, average pain, worst pain during the last 7 days and least pain during the last 24 hours. The pain interference subscale includes 7 interference items that ask the patient to respond using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0-10). These items include the effect on general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work (including housework), relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life.
Interview
Time frame: Interviews will be conducted within 6 months of participating in the PRT session.
A random selection of participants will be interviewed regarding their PRT experience.
Clinical Effectiveness: Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-10)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-10): The PSEQ-10 is a validated 10-item tool for assessing the patient's pain self-efficacy or belief in one's capability to perform activities even when undergoing pain. The 10 items ask the patient to rate their confidence in doing activities on a 7-point numerical rating scale (0-6), with higher scores indicating greater confidence.
Clinical Effectiveness: Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) Scale
Time frame: 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) Scale: The PGI-C is a validated single- item self-report measure used to assess a patient's perceived change in overall status following a treatment or intervention. Patients select one of 7 options to describe their experience, ranging from "very much worse" to "very much improved." The PGI-C is widely used in chronic pain research and has demonstrated sensitivity to clinically meaningful change across a range of pain populations.
Clinical Effectiveness: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)
Time frame: Day of Intervention, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.
Clinical effectiveness outcome measurement tools include Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) PANAS is a validated 20-item self-report measure assessing two distinct dimensions of mood: positive affect and negative affect. Participants rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very slightly or not at all, 5 = extremely), with higher positive affect scores and lower negative affect scores reflecting better emotional well-being. The PANAS has demonstrated strong reliability and validity across clinical populations, including individuals with chronic pain.
2 secondary outcomes
Feasibility of recruitment
Time frame: Baseline
Rate of participant accrual/completion
Time frame: Baseline, Day 7, and Day 30
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 5 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Susan Ward, MSW principal investigator
The Ottawa Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing PRT (Pain Reprocessing Therapy) in people with Chronic Pain, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 1 site in Canada.
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 9 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. 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?
Contact Susan Ward, MSW (613-737-8899 ext. 72123, SWard@toh.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Clinical Effectiveness: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Intensity and Pain Interference (time frame: Baseline, 1 week post-intervention, 1 month follow up.). 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 5 Nov 2026.