N/A
N=1,372
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Chronic Pain Self-Management Within the Context of Opioid Reduction: The EMPOWER Study
Chronic Pain
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03445988 ↗Enrolled (actual)
1,372
Serious AEs
1.8%
Results posted
Mar 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Opioid Tapering Success — 86; 61; 81; 0 Participants
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Behavioral); Chronic Pain Self Management Program (Behavioral); Taper Only (Other)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Stanford University
- Primary completion
- Nov 2023
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Opioid Tapering Success |
86; 61; 81; 0 | — |
Summary
The proposed study will fill several critical gaps in evidence that are preventing patients and physicians from making informed decisions about their pain care. This project will provide patients taking opioids and physicians with the specific evidence they need to choose the most effective route to pain control, reduced pain interference, opioid reduction, and improved role function, thereby improving patient care.
The aims of this study are to (1) reduce or contain prescription opioid use while maintaining pain control and (2) compare the effectiveness of the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain (pain-CBT), and no behavioral treatment within the context of patient-centered collaborative opioid tapering (Taper Only).
The acronym EMPOWER stands for Effective Management of Pain and Opioid-Free Ways to Enhance Relief.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Chronic non-cancer pain (≥ 6 months in duration)
- Currently receiving prescription opioids (≥ 10 MEDD) for ≥ 3 months
Exclusion Criteria
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Unable to participate in group treatments in a meaningful way (e.g., evident cognitive impairment or lack of English fluency)
- Moderate to severe opioid use disorder
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03445988). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.