Video telehealth emotional awareness and expression therapy for older U.S. military veterans with chronic pain: A pilot study.

Objectives: Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) targets trauma and emotional conflict to reduce or eliminate chronic pain, but video telehealth administration is untested. This uncontrolled pilot assessed acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of group-based video telehealth EAET (vEAET) for older veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Methods: Twenty veterans were screened, and 16 initiated vEAET, delivered as one 60-minute individual session and eight 90-minute group sessions.

Chronic Pain in Older Adults: A Neuroscience-Based Psychological Assessment and Treatment Approach.

Chronic pain remains a serious healthcare challenge, particularly for older adults who suffer substantial disability and are susceptible to serious risks from pain medications and invasive procedures. Psychotherapy is a promising option for older adults with chronic pain, since it does not contribute to medical or surgical risks. However, standard psychotherapies for chronic pain, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, produce only modest and time-limited benefits for older adults.