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(08/06/2026) Researchers from the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare demonstrated that brief cognitive behavioral therapy can rapidly improve chronic pain interference. The study divided 184 Veterans with moderate to severe chronic pain into two groups: those receiving the usual pain care and those receiving six 30-minute sessions of psychoeducation, behavioral and cognitive skills, and relapse prevention – along with the usual pain care – delivered over 12 weeks. Veterans receiving the brief cognitive therapy had greater improvements in how much pain interfered with life during treatment and still sustained those improvements three months later. The behavioral treatment was also associated with improved physical quality of life and sleep quality. The results suggest even brief behavioral therapy can lead to improvements in pain outcomes. (Pain, Aug. 1, 2026)