Chronic pain affects about one in five adults around the world. It shows up in many ways — like back pain, migraines, arthritis, or long-lasting symptoms after a concussion or cancer treatment.
For many people, medication doesn’t fully relieve the pain. But now, researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark have found new proof that psychological treatment can help — and they explain how it actually changes the brain.
The research team was led by Professor Lene Vase from the Department of Psychology at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University. Their study was published in The Lancet, a well-known medical journal.
According to Professor Vase, doctors often prescribe pain medicine when people are suffering, but these drugs don’t always help when the pain is long-term. That’s why many health professionals are now looking at other options, including psychological therapy.
It’s not a surprise that therapy can help with pain. What’s new is the detailed scientific explanation of why it works. Over the years, many studies have shown that people feel less pain after psychological treatment. But some wondered if this was just a distraction or a change in attitude — or if something physical actually changes in the brain.
To answer this, the researchers looked at several previous studies. Each one on its own wasn’t strong enough to draw clear conclusions. But when they were reviewed together, a pattern began to appear.
The team found that therapy can lead to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain. These are real, physical changes, not just emotional or mental tricks.
One of the most effective methods is cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. This type of therapy helps people change negative thought patterns and emotional reactions.
For example, someone living with pain might constantly think about how it will affect their job, their family, or their ability to enjoy life. These thoughts can take over their daily experience. CBT teaches people to shift those patterns, which helps reduce suffering.
In the brain, this change can be seen in the “default mode network” — a group of brain areas that become active when we’re not focused on anything in particular. This network is closely connected to how we process emotions and pain. After therapy, changes in this brain activity have been linked to less pain and better quality of life.
Professor Vase says these findings are important not just for psychologists, but for anyone helping people manage pain — including doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists. She also points out that therapy doesn’t always have to happen in person.
There are hundreds of mobile apps that offer support for pain through psychological techniques, especially CBT. While more research is needed to confirm how well these apps work, they might help people start managing their pain in a new way.
So far, face-to-face sessions with a trained psychologist seem to have the strongest results. But with more people needing help than there are therapists available, it’s encouraging to know that other professionals — and even apps — might play a role in guiding people toward better pain relief.
This new understanding brings hope to millions who suffer from chronic pain. It also shows that treating pain isn’t just about the body — it’s about the mind, too.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
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The study is published in The Lancet.
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