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Mind/Body Self-Management Tools for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury

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Study AimThis study aims to assess if mind and body self-management tools can effectively reduce neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.
What is being tested

Solving SCI Pain: Peer-Led Pain Self-Management Pain Tools Program

Behavioral
Who is being recruted

Spinal Cord Injury

+ Pain Management
+ Self-management Behaviors
Over 18 Years

See all eligibility criteria

How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: September 2025

See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of British Columbia
Last updated: October 8, 2025
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner
Study start date: September 15, 2025Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

This study is designed to support individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who experience chronic neuropathic pain, a common and distressing issue for many. Many current treatments involve medications that can have unpleasant side effects and aren't always effective, leading some to seek alternative options. This 10-week study evaluates a new mind/body program that aims to help participants manage their pain by changing how they think about and respond to it, rather than just focusing on reducing symptoms. The program provides personalized strategies, making it more adaptable to the varied and complex needs of those with SCI, with the ultimate goal of improving their quality of life. Participants in the study engage in a 7-week neuroscience-informed intervention, which includes group education sessions and resources focusing on brain-based pain science and behavior change. They also receive weekly peer coaching to support their progress. Throughout the study, participants complete online surveys to track changes in pain management behaviors, beliefs, and emotional well-being. These surveys help researchers understand how the intervention affects pain interference and severity. The study collects feedback to ensure the program is feasible and acceptable, with the hope of empowering participants to manage their pain more effectively. The program's success is measured by analyzing how participants' pain-related behaviors and beliefs change over time.

Official TitleSolving SCI Pain: Pain Recovery Tools for SCI. A 7-Week Mind/Body Self-Management Program Within a 10-Week Study 
Principal SponsorUniversity of British Columbia
Last updated: October 8, 2025
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details
10 patients to be enrolledTotal number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.
Treatment Study
These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

How participants are assigned to different groups/arms
In this clinical study, all participants receive the same treatment. Since there is only one group, there is no need for randomization or assignment to different arms. This type of study is often used to test a new treatment without comparing it to another.

Other Ways to Assign Participants
Randomized allocation: Participants are assigned randomly, like flipping a coin, to ensure fairness and reduce bias.
Non-randomized allocation: Participants are assigned based on specific factors, such as their medical condition or a doctor's decision.

How treatments are given to participants
In this study, all participants receive the same treatment. This approach is often used to evaluate the effects of a single intervention without comparing it to another.

Other Ways to Assign Treatments
Parallel assignment: Participants are split into separate groups, each receiving a different treatment.
Cross-over assignment: Participants switch between treatments during the study.
Factorial assignment: Participants receive different combinations of treatments.
Sequential assignment: Participants receive treatments one after another in a specific order, possibly based on individual responses.
Other assignment: Treatment assignment does not follow a standard or predefined design.

How the effectiveness of the treatment is controlled
In a non placebo-controlled study, no participants receive an inert substance (placebo) to compare outcomes. Instead, all participants receive either the experimental treatment or an alternative treatment (often the Standard of Care). This method allows researchers to compare the effects of the experimental treatment with those of a different active intervention, rather than a placebo.

Other Options
Placebo-Controlled: A placebo is used to compare the effects of the experimental treatment with those of an inert substance, isolating the true treatment effect.

How the interventions assigned to participants is kept confidential
Everyone involved in the study knows which treatment is being given. This is typically used when it's not possible or necessary to hide the treatment details from participants or researchers.

Other Ways to Mask Information
Single-blind: Participants do not know which treatment they are receiving, but researchers do.
Double-blind: Neither participants nor researchers know which treatment is given.
Triple-blind: Participants, researchers, and outcome assessors do not know which treatment is given.
Quadruple-blind: Participants, researchers, outcome assessors, and care providers all do not know which treatment is given.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria
Any sexBiological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.
Over 18 YearsRange of ages for which participants are eligible to join.
Healthy volunteers not allowedIf individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.
Conditions
Pathology
Spinal Cord Injury
Pain Management
Self-management Behaviors
Criteria

You can participate in this study if you: * Have a spinal cord injury (SCI) from a traumatic or non-traumatic cause, experiencing neuropathic/chronic pain * Are age 18 years or older, and living in Canada * Can read, speak, and understand English, and have reliable internet access * Can commit to 10 weeks of data collection (a check-in every 5th day) starting 3 weeks prior to the 7-week intervention, and a 3-month post-intervention follow-up survey. You cannot participate in this study if you: * Have an SCI or dysfunction from congenital (e.g., spina bifida), or, other neurological conditions (e.g., MS). * Are currently participating in CBT or other pain-focused therapy * Are unwilling or unable to keep pain-related medication stable for the 10-week study period

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives
One single intervention group 

is designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups
Group I
Experimental
Participants receive a 7-week, peer-led, neuroscience-informed pain self-management program designed for individuals with SCI and chronic pain. The program includes three 2-hour virtual group education sessions covering pain neuroscience, fear-avoidance, and optional body-based tools (e.g., movement, red light therapy, percussion massage, Graston technique). Four individualized coaching sessions (up to 1 hour each) provide tailored support. Participants engage with recommended tools between sessions and complete structured check-ins every five days. Mechanism assessments (e.g., pain beliefs, self-efficacy, emotional reactivity) are conducted during the program, with full outcome measures collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The intervention emphasizes autonomy, personal relevance, and peer support, distinguishing it from standard clinician-led approaches.
Study Objectives
Primary Objectives

Time spent using pain relief tools.

A 7-item self-report measure assessing how pain interferes with daily activities, including general activity, mood, walking ability, work, relationships, sleep, and enjoyment of life. A single-item short form will be used for 5-day check-ins.
Secondary Objectives

A 4-item self-report measure assessing pain intensity at its worst, least, average, and current levels over the past 24 hours, using a 0-10 numeric rating scale. A single-item short-form ("how sever is your pain today") is provided for 5-day check-ins.

A self-administered screening tool for neuropathic pain, consisting of 7 items assessing sensory descriptors and physical signs. A score of ≥3 suggests neuropathic pain. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins. 7-item score: Minimum value = 0. Maximum value = 7 1-item short form: Min. = 0, Max =1.

A subscale of the Survey of Pain Attitudes assessing beliefs that emotions such as anger and depression influence pain. Higher scores reflect stronger emotional-pain belief endorsement. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins. 5-item score: Min. = 0, Max = 4 (mean of 5 questions) 1-item short-form score: Min. = 0, Max =1

A 19-item self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality and disturbances over the past month. It yields a global score (0-21), with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins.

A 13-item self-report measure assessing catastrophic thinking related to pain. It includes subscales for rumination, magnification, and helplessness. Higher scores indicate greater catastrophizing. PCS total score = sum of all 13 items (0-52).

A 10-item self-report measure assessing confidence in performing daily activities despite pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain-related self-efficacy. PSEQ score = sum of all 10 items (0-60).

A 12-item self-report measure assessing satisfaction and frustration of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Higher scores reflect greater need satisfaction or frustration. Scoring: 1 - 5 (mean of items)

An 11-item self-report measure assessing fear of movement or re-injury due to pain. Higher scores indicate greater Kinesiophobia. Scoring: Total = sum of all (11-44).

A 4-item self-report measure assessing global subjective happiness. Respondents rate their overall happiness and how they compare to peers. Higher scores reflect greater subjective happiness. 4-item measure scoring: 1 - 7 (mean of 4-items). 1-item measure: 1-7

A brief self-report measure assessing perceived social isolation and loneliness. Higher scores indicate greater feelings of loneliness. Question 4 (single item). Scoring: 1 - 4.

A self-report measure assessing the frequency and intensity of angry feelings over the past 7 days. 5-items. Higher scores indicate greater anger-related distress. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins. Scoring: sum of 8-items (8-40) converted to T-score \- short form 1-item (1-5) converted to T-score

A self-report measure assessing symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, worry, and hyperarousal, over the past 7 days. 8-items. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins. Scoring: sum of 7-items (7-35) converted to T-score. \- short form 1-item (1-5) converted to T-score.

A self-report measure assessing depressive symptoms such as sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest over the past 7 days. 8 items. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity. A single item short-form is provided for 5-day check ins. Scoring: sum of 8-items (8-40) converted to T-score \- short form 1-item (1-5) converted to T-score

A single-item self-report measure in which participants rate their overall perception of change in health status since beginning an intervention. Higher scores indicate greater perceived improvement. Scoring: 1-7.

A self-report measure assessing participants' satisfaction with various aspects of the intervention, including perceived effectiveness, ease of use, and overall experience. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction. Scoring: 4-items mean score (1-5).

Single item open ended question to capture participant's confidence in self-managing their pain following the intervention. Scoring: 0-10.

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.
This study has 1 location
Suspended
University of British ColumbiaKelowna, CanadaSee the location
SuspendedOne Study Center