Brief cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain rapidly improves pain interference: a randomized controlled trial

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain in improving pain interference among primary care patients with moderate to severe chronic musculoskeletal pain. Their randomized controlled trial demonstrated that participants receiving brief CBT alongside usual pain care experienced significant and sustained improvements in pain interference, physical quality of life, and sleep quality compared to those receiving usual care alone. This study highlights the potential of abbreviated behavioral treatments to enhance access to care and improve patient outcomes in chronic pain management.