"A Whole Health Approach vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain: New Findings from a Multisite Pragmatic Clinical Trial"

This presentation will describe the first randomized controlled trial to test the VA Whole Health model for a chronic condition in veterans, in this case chronic pain. We will first review the trial methods as a pragmatic implementation-effectiveness study. Next, we will present the trial’s main effectiveness outcomes, followed by outcomes from a qualitative implementation evaluation, and conclude with results from a budget impact analysis. Finally, in considering these findings, we will assess the feasibility of scaling this Whole Health intervention for VA pain care in the future.

Karen H. Seal, MD, is the Chief of Integrative Health at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) and a Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at UCSF. A general internist and integrative medicine physician, Dr. Seal has dedicated her career to developing, testing, and implementing behavioral and complementary integrative health interventions for chronic pain, opioid dependency, and PTSD among veterans. She has spearheaded the establishment of several interdisciplinary clinics at SFVAHCS, including the post-9/11 Integrated Care Clinic for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the Integrated Pain Team Clinic, and the Integrative Health and Wellness Clinic, all based on the VA Whole Health model.

Dr. Seal has served as Principal Investigator for numerous VA-, NIH-, PCORI-, and DoD-funded pragmatic trials and has authored nearly 160 publications on topics such as chronic pain, PTSD, prescription opioid use, and COVID-19 prevention. As Chair of the Whole Health Advisory Committee at SFVAHCS, she oversees the implementation of Whole Health programs across the San Francisco VA healthcare system. Additionally, as a senior member of the 3DI Center of Innovation, and in collaboration with the UCSF Osher Center, Dr. Seal mentors junior investigators in their research projects in Whole Health and Integrative Health.

This is an in-person event.

The Osher Center for Integrative Health hosts monthly research seminars that are open to the research and clinical community at large. Seminars are held from September to June and are generally virtual. Presentations cover a wide range of topics relating to integrative health, many with a focus on integrative health equity.

Research Seminars are organized by Osher research faculty, Ariana Thompson-Lastad, PhD. Please contact Vierka Goldman (Veronica.Goldman@ucsf.edu) with any questions.