Evidence mapPaperPMID 39970872Full record

ReviewCell reports. Medicine2025

An update on non-pharmacological interventions for pain relief.

Yang Wang, Rachel Aaron, Nadine Attal, Luana Colloca

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cell reports. Medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
39citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

39 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  15. Editorial: Insights into pain mechanisms - 2024/2025.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  16. Review
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  18. Article
  19. [Research progress on vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2025
    Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Yang WangDepartment of Pain and Translation Symptom Science | Placebo Beyond Opinions Center, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Rachel AaronJohns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Nadine AttalINSERM U-987, UVSQ Paris Saclay University, Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Luana CollocaDepartment of Pain and Translation Symptom Science | Placebo Beyond Opinions Center, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: colloca@umaryland.edu.

Funding

NCCIH NIH HHS R01 AT010333NCCIH NIH HHS R01 AT011347NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE025946NIDCR NIH HHS R21 DE032532
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chronic pain affects a substantial portion of the population, yet current treatments often fail to provide adequate relief. Non-pharmacological interventions, which target behaviors and brain processes underlying the experience of pain, hold promises in offering relief for people with chronic pain. This review consolidates the current knowledge concerning the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain. We focus on psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions and emotion-based therapies) that use mental techniques and physical practices (e.g., exercise, massage, acupuncture, and yoga) that use body techniques to reduce pain. The efficacy of neuromodulation is also discussed. Given that placebo and expectation effects may enhance benefits for non-pharmacological interventions, we also discuss placebo interventions and expectation management practices. Finally, we describe digital therapeutics as an emerging approach for managing chronic pain. We argue that non-pharmacological interventions are critical adjunctive or stand-alone interventions for chronic pain conditions.

Indexed as

Chronic PainPain ManagementAcupuncture TherapyCognitive Behavioral TherapyHumanscognitive behavioral therapyexerciseexpectationsextended reality and therapeutic digital applicationsneuromodulationplacebo effects

Identifiers

PMID39970872
PMCPMC11866493

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.