A new study suggests that teaching people to regulate their emotions can deliver lasting relief for chronic pain. A clinical trial led by researchers at the University of New South Wales found that focusing on emotional well-being, in addition to traditional medical care, improved quality of life for adults with persistent pain. The findings have clear relevance for Thailand, where chronic pain is common and health systems face access and capacity challenges.
Historically, chronic pain treatment has relied on medications or physical therapies. In Thailand, these approaches can carry side effects, risk of dependency, and barriers to specialist care. Psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, are growing in Thai clinics but often underemphasize the emotional struggle that accompanies ongoing pain. The new study, published in JAMA Network Open, points to a holistic model that could be more accessible and culturally attuned for Thailand’s diverse patient population.
The intervention, named Pain and Emotion Therapy, was delivered entirely online. Over eight weeks, participants joined therapist-guided group video sessions to learn techniques for de-escalating negative emotions and fostering positive ones, based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). They continued their usual medical treatment and used self-guided apps and guides. Those who finished the program reported an average six-month reduction in pain intensity of about 10 points on a 100-point scale, along with better mood and daily functioning. Research by Neuroscience News and the JAMA Network Open abstract support these improvements.
Lead researchers emphasized that the benefits go beyond short-term relief. Participants described feeling more in control of their emotions, experiencing less pain, and reclaiming daily activities previously disrupted by pain. The study also highlighted emotion dysregulation—the difficulty of managing negative emotions—as a major, previously under-treated influence on chronic pain. By improving emotional awareness and coping, the therapy appears to interrupt the cycle of pain and distress.
Chronic pain imposes a heavy global burden. The World Health Organization notes that roughly 30% of people worldwide experience persistent pain lasting more than three months. Mental health consequences are common, with many individuals developing depression or anxiety and elevated suicide risk compared with the general population. In Thailand, data from public health research show high rates of comorbid depression, particularly among rural communities and older adults, underscoring the need for accessible, comprehensive care that addresses both physical and emotional health.
The trial recruited 89 adults with various painful conditions, including back pain and cancer-related pain, and included participants from remote areas. Those receiving Pain and Emotion Therapy showed statistically meaningful improvements in emotional regulation and pain intensity compared with those who received standard care. The involved measures indicated improvements, with gains largely maintained at six months. One participant described how calming the mind could bring their pain from a high level to a far more manageable state.
Experts see this work as a potential missing piece in chronic pain treatment. While Thailand has made progress in integrating mental health into primary care, direct training in emotional processing for pain patients remains relatively rare. The online, group-based format helps overcome travel and access barriers faced by many Thai patients in rural regions, aligning with the country’s expanding digital health ecosystem and telemedicine initiatives.
Understanding the science helps explain the promise. Chronic pain can alter brain circuits involved in emotion, leading to heightened emotional responses and difficulties coping with distress. This creates a feedback loop that worsens pain. Emotion-focused interventions aim to break this loop by improving emotional processing and resilience, complementing medical therapies.
For Thailand, the implications are significant. A scalable, online therapy could reach underserved populations outside major cities, aligning with digital health priorities promoted by the Ministry of Public Health. As telemedicine grows, integrating emotion-centered pain therapies could address both pain and mental health needs for urban workers and rural farmers alike.
Thai culture also resonates with these concepts. Buddhist notions of mindfulness and acceptance align with skills taught in emotion regulation and DBT. Traditional practices such as meditation-based coping have long been part of Thai healing, and new evidence supports translating these approaches into accessible, science-backed formats.
Challenges remain. Adapting the therapy to Thai cultural nuances, expanding access in underserved areas, and training therapists in this specific approach will be essential. While the initial trial is promising, larger and more diverse studies are needed. A future, larger-scale trial is planned for 2026 to refine the model for broader international use.
For policymakers and healthcare providers, the message is clear: address chronic pain with a comprehensive approach that includes emotional health. For patients and families, online, skill-based therapy offers a feasible path to lasting relief, complementing physical treatment.
In summary, online emotional regulation therapy holds promise as a practical addition to chronic pain care in Thailand, with benefits for mood, sleep, and daily functioning. Patients should discuss with their clinicians how psychological therapies might fit into their pain management plan. As Thailand’s telehealth landscape expands, staying informed about evidence-based, accessible options remains key to a hopeful, healthier future.
Notes for readers:
- Research is supported by the UNSW team; full details are available in the JAMA Network Open trial publication and related coverage.
- Ongoing work in digital health and telemedicine continues to evolve, with Thai public health authorities prioritizing wider access to online mental and physical health services.