NCT05754190 · Brown University
Assessing Symptom and Mood Dynamics in Pain Using the Smartphone Application SOMA
What this study is about
This study relies on the use of a smartphone application (SOMA) that the investigators developed for tracking daily mood, pain, and activity status in acute pain, chronic pain, and healthy controls over four months.
View original scientific description
This study relies on the use of a smartphone application (SOMA) that the investigators developed for tracking daily mood, pain, and activity status in acute pain, chronic pain, and healthy controls over four months.The primary goal of the study is to use fluctuations in daily self-reported symptoms to identify computational predictors of acute-chronic pain transition, pain recovery, and/or chronic pain maintenance or flareups. The general study will include anyone with current acute or chronic pain, while a smaller sub-study will use a subset of patients from the chronic pain group who have been diagnosed with chronic low back pain, failed back surgery syndrome, or fibromyalgia. These sub-study participants will first take part in one in-person EEG testing session while completing simple interoception and reinforcement learning tasks and then begin daily use of the SOMA app. Electrophysiologic and behavioral data from the EEG testing session will be used to determine predictors of treatment response in the sub-study.
Interventions
DEVICE
SOMA pain manager smartphone application
SOMA is a smartphone application developed for acute and chronic pain patients to track daily mood and pain symptoms and overall activity.
Primary outcome measures
[General Study] Acute-Chronic Pain Transition Probability
Time frame: T1 [4 months of daily app use]
Test whether daily affect (incl. mood), pain, activities, and other factors measured by the SOMA app can predict transition from acute to chronic pain, pain recovery, or pain maintenance using mixed effects linear regression model-based analyses to predict long- term pain scores such as pain intensity, unpleasantness, and/or interference
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- \[General study\]
- Chronic pain group:
- Age above 18
- Access to a personal smartphone and a stable internet connection
- Average pain intensity score of greater than 3 in the past week or
- Average pain interference score of greater than 3 in the past week or
- Average pain distress score of greater than 3 in the past week
- Pain duration: greater than 6 months
- Acute pain group:
- Age above 18
- Access to a personal smartphone and a stable internet connection
- Average pain intensity score of greater than 3 in the past week ○ or
- Average pain interference score of greater than 3 in the past week ○ or
- Average pain distress score of greater than 3 in the past week
- Pain duration: less than 3 months
- Pain cause: Due to recent surgery, injury, acute illness, or childbirth (within the past 3 months)
- Healthy control group:
- Age above 18
- Access to a personal smartphone and a stable internet connection
- Average pain intensity score of less than 3 in the past week
- Average pain interference score of less than 3 in the past week
- Average pain distress score of less than 3 in the past week
- No surgery, injury, acute illness, or childbirth (within the past 3 months)
- In person EEG testing \[Sub-Study only\]:
- Same as in General App Study Above and additionally:
- Current diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Low Back Pain or Failed Back Surgery Syndrome OR
- No current or prior history of chronic pain
- If participant has chronic low back pain or failed back surgery syndrome: are they planning to have either a radio-frequency ablation, back surgery, or spinal cord stimulation implant in the next few months
- If participant has chronic low back pain or failed back surgery syndrome: have they received insurance approval for the procedure?
- Ok with EEC/ECG measures
Exclusion criteria
- \[General study\]
- Chronic pain group:
- recent injury or surgery unrelated to the pain in the past 3 months
- difficulty participating for technical/logistical issues (e.g., no computer, incompatible smartphone, can't commit to 4 months study participation);
- Not fluent in English (difficulty understanding questions)
- Current primary or metastatic cancer (organic cause of pain)
- Acute pain group:
- History of Chronic Pain (Pain lasting for more than 6 months)
- difficulty participating for technical/logistical issues (e.g., no computer, incompatible smartphone, can't commit to 4 months study participation);
- Not fluent in English (difficulty understanding questions)
- Current primary or metastatic cancer (organic cause of pain)
- Healthy control group: History of Chronic Pain (Pain lasting for more than 6 months)
- difficulty participating for technical/logistical issues (e.g., no computer, incompatible smartphone, can't commit to 4 months study participation);
- Not fluent in English (difficulty understanding questions) -In person EEG testing \[Sub-study only\]: \[will interfere with EEG data collection safety or quality\]:
- Same as in General App Study Above and additionally:
- Left-handedness
- Use of a wheelchair
- Heart failure diagnosis
- Current or prior experience with acute psychosis or mania
- implanted pacemaker, neurostimulator or any other head or heart implants
- require a hearing aid to hear properly
- claustrophobia
- metal fragments in the body
Where
- Providence, Rhode Island
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Sep 19, 2025 · Source of record for eligibility and locations