Details for This Review

Study Population: Adults 18 years and older with chronic pain (e.g., musculoskeletal, neuropathic) from nine countries, including six studies from the United States; patients with cancer, headaches, or migraines were excluded

Efficacy End Points: Pain intensity, functional disability, quality of life

Harm End Points: Adverse events

Narrative: Chronic pain, with or without tissue damage, is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that lasts for more than three months. It disrupts an individual's ability to engage in their everyday life, occupation, and social relationships, with a resultant reduction in overall quality of life.¹ The estimated prevalence of chronic pain in the United States is 18% to 35%, and it increases with age.^2,3 Psychological therapies are a key component of chronic pain treatment; however, there are multiple barriers to receiving face-to-face psychological therapies, including geographic restrictions, scarcity of resources, and cost. Remotely delivered psychological therapies (i.e., internet or smartphone apps based on psychological theory or with recognizable psychotherapeutic content) may increase patient access, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes.^4,5