Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely accepted, evidence-based approaches to pain management. Unfortunately, trained CBT therapists are scarce, and the service often is poorly reimbursed. Through funding from the National VA Health Services Research and Development program, CMCD investigators are leading a randomized control study to evaluate a new approach for delivering stepped CBT pain management so that all patients receive regular monitoring and self-care education via automated calls, while scarce clinician resources are focused more effectively on patients who need more intensive treatment. The service will use patients’ pedometer step counts to automatically learn the mix of live and automated therapy sessions that result in the best outcomes overall, while safely stepping patients down to less resource-intensive service options if that patient demonstrates equal or greater benefit using those approaches.
For more information, contact Nicolle Marinec, at stecn@med.umich.edu
Categories:
Artificial Intelligence, Chronic Pain, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Veterans
