Further Reading and Research About PRT
Understanding the science behind chronic pain can be an important part of the healing process. The resources below highlight key research studies, clinical approaches, and mind-body methods that are helping to change how we view and treat persistent pain. These references have shaped my approach and may offer helpful context as you explore this work.
Books by Leading Experts
The Way Out by Alan Gordon, LCSW (co-creator of PRT)
Unlearn Your Pain by Dr. Howard Schubiner
Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno (classic, foundational mind-body book)
The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (trauma’s impact on body and chronic pain)
Research
1. Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) – Boulder Back Pain Study (2022)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy is a neuroscience-based approach that helps rewire the brain’s response to pain. It targets neuroplastic pain, which persists even after tissue has healed. PRT guides the brain away from fear and hypervigilance, and toward safety and ease.
In a major randomized controlled trial published in JAMA Psychiatry, 66% of participants treated with PRT were pain-free or nearly pain-free after just 4 weeks—a significant improvement over placebo and usual care.
Citation: Ashar, Y.K., et al. (2022). Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(1), 13–23.
Read the study https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694#google_vignette
2. Dr. John E. Sarno – The Mind-Body Pioneer
Dr. Sarno's work laid the foundation for today’s mind-body pain treatments. He introduced the concept of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), which links chronic pain to repressed emotions and unconscious stress. His books, including Healing Back Pain and The Mindbody Prescription, have helped thousands rethink their relationship to pain.
Sarno’s insights continue to influence modern approaches like PRT and EAET.
Recommended reading:
Healing Back Pain, The Mindbody PrescriptionLearn more
https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/John_E._Sarno,_MD
3. Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)
EAET is an emotion-focused, evidence-based therapy that helps people uncover and express unresolved emotional conflicts that may be driving chronic pain. It’s been shown to be more effective than CBT in some trials for fibromyalgia and other conditions.
Key Study:
Lumley, M.A., et al. (2017). EAET vs CBT vs Education for Fibromyalgia.
Finding: EAET led to significantly greater pain reduction than both CBT and education.
4. Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT)
CFT is a personalized, movement- and behavior-based approach developed for chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially low back pain. It addresses fear, unhelpful beliefs, and movement avoidance—retraining both the mind and body toward confident, safe engagement with life.
Key Study:
O'Sullivan, P. et al. (2018). Back pain RCT published in The Lancet.
Finding: CFT led to greater pain relief and functional improvement than traditional physiotherapy at 12 months.
5. Complementary Approaches: TRE®, Somatic Experiencing®, and MBPM
While not always front-line treatments, these somatic and mindfulness-based methods show growing evidence of supporting chronic pain recovery—especially in trauma-related conditions:
• Mindfulness-Based Pain Management (MBPM)
A clinically adapted version of MBSR, MBPM focuses specifically on chronic pain. Long-term studies show improvements in pain acceptance, emotional regulation, and overall quality of life—especially in those with chronic health conditions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness-based_pain_management
• Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®)
Pilot studies show TRE can reduce chronic pain symptoms, lower anxiety and depression, and increase body awareness and self-efficacy. One global case study showed improvements in perceived stress, pain, and well-being.
TRE Global Case Study (2021)
https://treglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-Beattie_Berceli.-Global-Case-Study_The-effects-of-TRE-on-perceived-stress-flourishing_chronic-pain-self-efficacy2.pdf
• Somatic Experiencing® (SE)
In RCTs, SE reduced PTSD symptoms, pain-related fear, and emotional reactivity in individuals with trauma-linked pain. When paired with physiotherapy, SE produced greater long-term improvements in PTSD and pain-related anxiety.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5489867/
These methods can be valuable adjuncts to therapies like PRT and EAET, especially for nervous system regulation, body awareness, and emotional resilience.
