Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy

A randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavior therapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for medically unexplained pain

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT2016091329810N1

Enrollment

341

Registered

2016-11-09

Start date

2016-07-22

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2018-02-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain disorders related to psychological factors. A category of psychiatric disorders which are characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that suggest a medical condition but are not fully explained by any known medical reasons. Disorders characterized by bodily symptoms caused by psychological

Interventions

Intervention 1: Control group: cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change p

Behavior

Control group: cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of think

Intervention group: Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a unique form of psychodynamic treatment. ISTDP interventions are specifically designed to experience the emotion cognitively,

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 50 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Inclusion criteria: "18–45 years of age"; "at least one MUP with a duration of six months"; "fluency in Farsi". Exclusion criteria: "acute drug/alcohol abuse"; "psychotic disorder"; "bipolar disorder"; "anorexia nervosa disorder"; "acute suicidality"; "pregnancy".

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Pain intensity. Timepoint: at Baseline, Post-treatment (week 16) and at the Three-month Follow-up. Method of measurement: Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Secondary outcome measure 2: anxiety. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).;Secondary outcome measure 1: depression. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).;Secondary outcome measure 3: catastrophizing. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).;Secondary outcome measure 4: self-efficacy. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (CPSS).;Secondary outcome measure 5: chronic pain coping. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI).	—

Measure

Time frame

Secondary outcome measure 2: anxiety. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).;Secondary outcome measure 1: depression. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).;Secondary outcome measure 3: catastrophizing. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).;Secondary outcome measure 4: self-efficacy. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (CPSS).;Secondary outcome measure 5: chronic pain coping. Timepoint: We will take the measurement at three timepoints: at a baseline assessment (before randomization); immediately post of treatment (after 16 sessions); and after three months of follow-up. Method of measurement: Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI).

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Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactDr. Mehdi Saberi

Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

m.saberi@bmsu.ac.ir+98 21 2265 6623

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026