E-health Resilience Program For Chronic Spine Pain

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an E-health Resilience Program For Chronic Spine Pain

This study will examine a e-health resilience based program, JOOL, for chronic spine pain patients through the following aims:

Aim 1: To test the effectiveness of a resilience based program known as JOOL Aim 2: To evaluate the characteristics of the participants most likely to benefit from this treatment

This is a pilot RCT in which 150 patients with chronic spine pain will be randomized to one of two arms: (1) a group that downloads the JOOL mobile application resilience program; and (2) a control group.The primary outcome will be a change in physical function.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient of the UM Back & Pain Center
• Primary diagnosis of neck or back pain (spine pain)
• Age 18-70
• English speaking
• Able to provide consent
• Willing to download the mobile application and comply with study procedures
• Antidepressant medications stable for ≥ 4 weeks
• No plan to initiate a new non-pharmacological pain intervention during the 30-day study period (e.g. back surgery, physical therapy, behavioral therapy

Exclusion Criteria

• Having known psychotic disorder or the presence of another psychiatric condition (e.g. severe depression [HADS scores ≥ 15], suicidal ideation) or cognitive impairment (e.g. severe dyslexia, TBI) limiting ability to give consent and/or participate fully in the study
• Currently undergoing psychotherapeutic care at the Back & Pain Center because many of the concepts that are the focus of this study are already employed in that treatment
• Other factors that at the discretion of the investigators would adversely affect study participation.