APS Newsletter JUL25

Australian Pain Society Newsletter

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Editor’s Note

Dr Joanne Harmon & Clinical Associate Professor Kylie Bailey

The best part about winter is sitting back and having a good read in front of the heater with a cup of hot chocolate. So, sit back and enjoy, as we have got your cosy winter reading covered in this issue.

The Basic Pain Research Special Interest Group (BPR SIG) journal watch is featured in this edition and, as usual, provides us with summaries on complex matters. Jenny Thai, Jackson Hart, and John-Paul Jackson Fuller have each provided a summary. Such as how Park et al (2024) explored the complex communication interplay between sensory nerve to bone cancer. They also unpacked the paper by Aso et al (2020) on how changes in osteochondral innervation might contribute to human and rat osteoarthritis (OA) pain. As well as identification of important new findings in Martin et al (2025) study on degradation of Nav1.8 as an innovative alternative to currently available neuropathic analgesia.

It is always great to know what our members are publishing, particularly the newly published work by Klem et al. (2025) on young people’s experiences of co-existing chronic musculoskeletal pain and mental health conditions. This very valuable article showcases the requirements for interdisciplinary and person-centred care. Have you ever wanted to know if the provision of online support for emotion dysregulation in people with chronic pain was effective or not? Then the twoarm randomised controlled trial (RCT) article by our members Norman-Nott et al (2025) has got you covered. Results indicated that it may be possible to change not only the experience of pain itself, but a potential long-term improvement in quality of life.

As you all know, recently we put out an expression of interest for a new member of the Australian Pain Society (APS) Newsletter Editorial team, and I am happy to share that we have appointed Clinical Associate Professor Kylie Bailey as our new editor. I am really looking forward to working with Kylie.

Hello!

Thank you for the introduction, Jo.

As you now know, I have the absolute privilege of serving as the APS Newsletter Editor, and I’m very excited to contribute to the APS Board, its members, and the wider pain community. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joanne Harmon, our continuing Assistant Newsletter Editor, Mrs Bernadette Smith, the APS President, and Kylie Dark and Tracy Hallen in the APS Secretariat Office for making me feel so welcome since joining the APS team. I truly appreciate your support and kindness.

For those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m a senior clinical psychologist and clinician researcher. I’m very passionate about ensuring that patients not only receive the care they need, but that they also feel truly heard, safe, and supported. I strongly believe in the importance of equitable access to evidencebased treatments, and I’m committed to championing and promoting the incredible work happening across our field.

Outside of work, I’m always up for a chat and enjoy spending time in the garden, going for walks, and being with my family and friends.

I look forward to working together into the future.

Kylie

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Global Year 2025, Pain Revolution, and APS on the Move

By Bernadette Smith, APS President

Dear APS Members,

Hot off the heels of our recent Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the launch of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) 2025 Global Year, during our conference. This Global Year is a timely and meaningful reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure that pain care is accessible, evidence-based, and equitable, no matter where you live. Again, a big thank you to Dr Saurab Sharma and Dr Tia Parma Yamato for bringing this year’s theme to life on our local stage with such warmth and insight. It was a fantastic way to start meaningful conversations for how we can achieve the aims of the 2025 Global Year theme, here at home.

If you were not able to attend the ASM, the 2025 Global Year theme is “Pain Management, Research and Education in Low- and MiddleIncome Settings.” This theme draws attention to the need for accessible and equitable pain care, no matter where in the world you live. While much of the focus is on lower-income countries, this theme also reaches into our own communities and priority populations, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally diverse groups, and underserved communities.

As someone living and working in regional Tasmania, this theme feels particularly close to my heart. I am a strong advocate for equity and access to interdisciplinary pain care in underserved communities. I am also passionate about promoting person-centred pain education and training for all health professionals.

Reflection on this Global Year: How can you ensure that the pain treatment you provide is accessible, evidence-based, and equitable for the community you serve?

This brings me to Pain Revolution, which is a notfor-profit initiative focused bike ride on equipping local communities with the knowledge and skills to better understand and manage persistent pain.

I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Pain Revolution ride for the fourth time this August. Among the 20 riders are several fellow Australian Pain Society (APS) members, including Lorimer Moseley, Tim Bagshaw, Matthew Forster, Karin Jones, Nicky Rickerby, and Jay Whittem.

Together, we will be on the road to raise awareness and funds for the Local Pain Educator (LPE) program. This important program is a powerful initiative that equips local champions to share knowledge, challenge unhelpful myths, and support people living with persistent pain in their own communities.

If you would like to support the cause you can make a tax-deductible donation to support the fundraising effort of your favourite APS rider: https://2025-pain-revolution-rural-outreach-tour. raiselysite.com/

Every bit helps, and 100% of your donation goes straight to the program.

And back at the APS…

There’s plenty going on at APS headquarters too. A big, warm welcome to Clinical Associate Professor Kylie Bailey, who steps into the role of eNewsletter Editor, a very big thank you also to the eNewsletter team for nurturing Kylie into the role so beautifully. And hats off to Dr Laura Prendergast our President-Elect for her fantastic write-up on the 2025 APS Membership Survey, which builds on the insightful feedback received from members who completed the APS Survey.

With the membership survey in hand, and other excellent feedback gathered at the ASM (including from those who stopped by the APS trestle table for chocolate eggs!). The Board is now turning its attention to our upcoming Strategic Planning Meeting. We will be using your much valued input to shape our strategic priorities and future initiatives. We will be diving into themes such as innovation, membership engagement, and dare we dream, a new membership portal and website.

It’s aspirational for now (and yes, the budget will have its say), but our focus is clear: to better support and connect with you, our members, and drive meaningful, measurable progress in pain care, research, education, and policy.

Finally, remember to check out the wide range of Global Year resources from IASP on the APS website https://www.apsoc.org.au/global-yearagainst-pain. This link includes fact sheets, webinars, infographics, and open-access articles about chronic pain. They are free to access, easy to share, and designed to support your clinical, research, and advocacy work.

And speaking of accessible resources, we are excited to announce that the OPEN Pain Education Network will be officially launched on 25 July. This innovative initiative offers a modern,

flexible and affordable education program for all healthcare professionals who work with people who have chronic pain.

The APS is proud to be involved in this important educational effort, which aims to bridge the pain education gap. OPEN will help to ensure that high-quality, evidence-based knowledge reaches clinicians in all settings. Further, OPEN supports equitable access to this pain education platform as it can be accessed by all professionals, including those in regional, rural, and underserved communities.

Thanks, as always, for being part of this vibrant, thoughtful, and forward-looking community.

Bernadette Smith President, Australian Pain Society

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Important Dates for Your Diary

Topical Session Submissions Now Open

Rising Star Award Applications Now Open

Free Paper/Poster Abstract Submissions Now Open

Tuesday 2 September 2025

Topical Session Submissions Close

Tuesday 7 October 2025

Rising Star Award Applications Close

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Free Paper/Poster Abstract Submissions Close

Tuesday 18 November 2025

Registrations Open!

Save The Date

APS 2026 will be held from 19 - 22 April 2026 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, SA

Please visit the conference website here: www.dccam.com.au/aps2026

If you have any questions, please contact the APS Conference Secretariat: apsasm@dccam.com.au

TOPICAL SESSION SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN!

Submissions Deadline: Tuesday 2 September 2025

On behalf of the Scientific Program Committee and the Local Organising Committee, we are pleased to advise topical session submissions for APS 2026 are now open.

The deadline for Topical Session submissions is: Tuesday 2 September 2025

We are looking for innovation, so put on your creative thinking caps and think beyond the traditional, formal three speaker format. This is your opportunity to reimagine how we explore topics like pain philosophy, ethics in research and pain, controversial conversations in pain, or go niche by exploring one area from numerous perspectives.

Your session can be a healthy debate, or an in-depth collaborative discussion, or something entirely new. We also encourage sessions to be interactive, such as including an audience poll or awarding prizes.

Proposed symposia that bring together a range of experience levels (early career to senior) and diverse professional expertise will be prioritised.

View the topical session submission guidelines and submit via the conference website.

We look forward to receiving your submissions. Should you have any queries regarding your submission or the process, please contact the Conference Secretariat.

RISING STAR AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

This award showcases rising star pain researchers in Australia and may be awarded annually, subject to the application of suitable candidates.

The Rising Star Winner will receive a return domestic airfare, accommodation, and complimentary registration to attend the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting, where they will give a plenary presentation to showcase their work and ideas.

The deadline for Rising Star Award submissions is: Tuesday 7 October 2025

Please click here to view the Rising Star Award Submission Guidelines.

To submit an application, please complete the form online here.

Should you have any queries regarding your submission or the process, please contact the Conference Secretariat: apsasm@dccam.com.au

We look forward to receiving your submission.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN!

Submissions Open Tuesday 1 July 2025

Abstracts will be accepted for Free Communication and Poster presentations. Opportunities to be involved in the Rapid Communication Sessions are also available.

The deadline for Abstract submissions is: Tuesday 2 September 2025

Please click here to view the Abstract Submission Guidelines

There are THREE categories for Abstract Submissions. Please visit these portals below

Experimental Studies & Clinical Trials Abstract Guidelines Clinical Practice & Service Delivery Abstract Guidelines Case Reports Abstract Guidelines

Should you have any queries regarding your submission or the process, please contact the Conference Secretariat: apsasm@dccam.com.au

We look forward to receiving your submission.

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Nomination for Australian Pain Society Distinguished Member Award – 2026

The Board of Directors is seeking nominations from all Australian Pain Society (APS) members for candidates to be considered for the Distinguished Member Award(s) to be presented at the APS 46th Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in Adelaide from 19 - 22 April 2026.

Eligibility criteria:

Candidates must be APS members who generally have had a lengthy career in the field of pain and:

• Made major contribution1 towards the Society, and

• Significantly contributed to the science of pain management, and/or

• Played a significant clinical, educational or research role in the field of Pain Management in Australia

1 Major contributions include, but are not limited to:

• Scientific Program Committee involvement

• Pain research

• APS projects

• Subcommittee involvement

• Board liaison

• Contributions to ASM presentations

Nomination Guidelines:

• A ‘Nomination for Distinguished Member Award’ form must be completed.

• It is desirable that nominees have held continuous APS membership for over 10 years.

• Nominations must include an 800-900 word biography of the nominee. The Board will not consider incomplete nomination forms.

• Unsuccessful nominations are not automatically put forward in subsequent years.

• The nominator must be prepared to present a brief summary of the Distinguished Member biography in the ASM program, or arrange a suitable alternate for the presentation segment.

Submission

• All nominations to be submitted to the APS Secretariat by 31 October 2025.

Notification:

• The APS Board will notify successful nominees by 31 December 2025.

• Distinguished Member recipients are actively encouraged to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting in order to receive their award in person from the APS President.

The nomination form and a listing of past recipients of the Distinguished Member Award, including their biographies, can be found on the APS website.

ASM Travel Grants

The Australian Pain Society (APS) is pleased to announce the availability of several Travel Grants for members to present their research at our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).

Travel Grants are awarded as follows:

• PhD students (up to the value of $500)

• A single dedicated Travel Grant for a Pain in Childhood (PinC) SIG member ($500)

• A single dedicated Travel Grant for a Basic Pain Research (BPR) SIG member ($500)

• If funds permit, further travel grants may be offered to nurses, allied health professionals, and other post-graduate students.

This Travel Grant program is designed to encourage contribution to, and participation in the ASM, and is made possible through an allocation of a capped pool of APS operating funds.

Full eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions are available on the Travel Grants webpage.

Professor Michael Cousins AO Travel Grant

In honour of Professor Michael Cousins AO, the Australian Pain Society (APS) is pleased to announce a single, dedicated Travel Grant for an Allied Health Practitioner (AHP) member to present their research abstract at our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).

The Professor Michael Cousins AO Allied Health Practitioner Travel Grant includes:

• Complimentary ASM registration at the relevant early bird rate

• $500 towards ASM travel and accommodation expenses

To be considered for any Travel Grant:

a. an EOI for a Travel Grant must be indicated when your abstract is submitted; AND

b. a Travel Grant Application form must be submitted to aps@apsoc.org.au by 5pm AEDT on 30 November 2025 – no exceptions.

Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report

Amy McNeilage

Amy McNeilage is a PhD candidate in The University of Sydney’s Medical School with expertise in qualitative methodology. Her research seeks to identify and mitigate harms associated with gabapentinoid use.

Face Time and Fresh Perspectives: Reflections on APS 2025

Thanks to the generous support of the Australian Pain Society (APS), I had the opportunity to attend and present at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) held in April at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park. The travel grant helped to cover my costs and enabled me to participate fully in what was a thought-provoking, energising, and memorable event.

This year, I was fortunate to contribute to the scientific programme in two ways: chairing and presenting in a topical session and sharing a poster outlining some of my PhD research. The topical session I convened, Gabapentinoids for chronic pain – game changer or looming crisis?, brought together diverse perspectives on the contested role of these drugs in pain management. With representation from pain medicine, clinical pharmacology, and addiction, the session examined both the appropriate uses and potential risks of gabapentinoid prescribing. Attendance was strong, and the level of audience engagement well exceeded my expectations. Dozens of questions poured in, and many attendees continued the conversation in the hallway after the session wrapped up. It was a career highlight to facilitate such a dynamic exchange and to see the topic resonate so widely. Several meaningful contacts and potential collaborations have already emerged from these discussions.

My poster, presenting findings from a systematic review of professional perspectives on gabapentinoid use and dependence, also prompted some insightful conversations, particularly with clinicians who shared their “real world” experiences. More broadly, I was very impressed by the quality of the posters this year. The diversity and depth of research on display were impressive and a testament to the vibrancy of our

field. Some of the most meaningful conversations happened not in formal sessions, but while browsing the exhibition hall or queuing for coffee.

This was my fourth time attending the APS ASM, and I’ve come to cherish it as one of the most valuable events in my academic calendar. My first was in Hobart in 2022, when I knew almost no one and felt somewhat daunted by the scale of it all. Since then, and especially after attending the painSTAR program in the Barossa last year, I feel very much part of the APS community. The meeting is not only incredibly well organised –shout out to Alex and her team at DC Conference & Association Management – but also one of the most collegial and welcoming conferences I have attended. As someone who works remotely most of the time, APS has been instrumental in helping me feel connected to the wider pain research community in Australia.

One of the highlights this year was finally meeting in person one of my PhD supervisors, Bridin Murnion. Bridin is a powerhouse of clinical insight and research expertise, with a sharp intellect matched by an equally sharp sense of humour. It was such a pleasure to finally connect in person and share a laugh between ASM sessions. I was also glad to connect with my colleague Stephanie Mathieson. Despite working at the same university and sharing similar interests in opioids, gabapentinoids, and deprescribing, we had never met until she introduced herself at the conference. I am grateful she did, and I have no doubt we will collaborate in future. Another personal highlight was seeing my fellow painSTAR alumni present their work. The quality and impact of their presentations were inspiring, and it was a joy to cheer them on.

By the end of the conference, my phone was full of half-typed notes – new study ideas, papers to read, and people to contact. I always leave APS feeling more motivated, more curious, and more connected to my peers. I am already looking forward to seeing everyone again in Adelaide next year.

Declaration: Amy McNeilage has nothing to declare.

Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report

Meredith Smith

Meredith is a paediatric physiotherapist who has just submitted a PhD on chronic pain assessment in cerebral palsy. Meredith works as a lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of Adelaide and clinically at Novita and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

I was very fortunate to receive a travel grant, as a final year PhD student, to attend the Australian Pain Society (APS) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Melbourne, 2025. This was my third time attending the APS scientific meeting and I was excited to reconnect with attendees I had met in previous years.

A highlight for me was presenting a symposium on Advancing Innovative Methodologies in Paediatric Pain Research with Dr Nicky Pope (Melbourne) and Prof Jen Stinson (Toronto, Canada). This was a particular privilege as I first met both Nicky and Jen three years ago (at my very first APS scientific meeting) and now had the opportunity to present alongside them. In this symposium, I presented key findings from my PhD, including how we sought to meaningfully include children and young people with diverse cognitive and communication abilities in qualitative research. It was encouraging to have strong attendance and engagement from both clinicians and researchers, particularly during the discussion where we explored barriers and enablers to inclusive recruitment, as well as some of the practical learnings from my work. I also shared outcomes from the project, including

two newly developed pain assessment tools designed to support self-report in children and young people with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs.

Another highlight for me was being selected to give a rapid communication based on my poster, Adapting Chronic Pain Assessment Tools for Children and Young People with Cerebral Palsy: A Multi-Stakeholder Consensus Study. Although I was initially nervous about summarising my research in just 90 seconds, the experience turned out to be fun.

The ASM offered a wide range of valuable learning opportunities. A standout session for me was Prof Tamar Pincus’s plenary on validating patient’s pain in clinical settings, which gave me much to reflect on for both research and practice. I also really enjoyed Prof David Bennett’s work on understanding and treating neuropathic pain. As a clinical researcher it was exciting to see the research pipeline all the way from basic science through to usual clinical care.

I am especially looking forward to APS 2026, which will take place in my home city of Adelaide. It will be wonderful to reconnect with colleagues from around Australia and share updates from the next phase of our research into pain management for children with cerebral palsy.

Declaration: Meredith Smith has nothing to declare.

Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report

Monique Wilson

Monique is a final year PhD candidate with the Persistent Pain Research Group at the University of South Australia. Her work is centred around co-designing solutions to improve the clinical implementation of pain science education.

Using co-design to improve physiotherapist-delivered pain science education in private practice settings

As always, the Australian Pain Society (APS) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) did not disappoint! Thanks to the generous support of the APS travel grant, I was able to attend the 2025 ASM in Melbourne — my third time at this fantastic national conference. As I think back on APS 2025, several key highlights stand out to me right away.

Just like previous years, networking proved to be one of the most valuable aspects of the week. The vibrant and welcoming atmosphere that defines APS creates a genuine space for meeting new people and reconnecting with familiar faces. Coming off the back of an already busy conference period in March (Australian Osteoarthritis Summit and EP3 with Noigroup), it was especially rewarding to cross paths again with some individuals I had only recently met just a few weeks earlier.

I was especially looking forward to catching up with Professor Tamar Pincus. I was lucky enough to visit Tamar’s research group for a week at the University of Southampton in July of 2024. It was wonderful to catch up in person and hear updates from her amazing group. As always, her talks were brilliant and engaging, and I found them particularly relevant to my current work in peer mentorship.

The trainee ‘Meet the Minds’ session is always a worthwhile part of the program. It offered a great opportunity to sit down in small groups with some of the international and national leading experts in the field. The conversations were insightful and provided the young researchers with some useful takeaways.

Finally, I was given the wonderful opportunity to present a free paper talk. I shared my co-design work which involved partnering with physiotherapists and people with lived experience of chronic pain to develop novel resources aimed at improving the clinical implementation of pain science education. It was truly wonderful to see the increasing interest and growing support for co-design methodologies in research, reflecting the expanding recognition of its value. It was also a great moment to reflect on how far I have come since presenting at APS last year. I felt betterprepared, less nervous and more comfortable engaging the audience – definitely a sign of personal growth. The other talks in my session were outstanding; with a shoutout for the best rhyming research rap I have ever seen!

I am really looking forward to next year’s APS Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide. As a proud born-and-bred Adelaide girl, I am excited to showcase everything this small, vibrant (and often underrated) city has to offer. We will be welcoming you with open arms, big smiles, and a generous glass of South Australia’s finest wine. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Declaration: Monique Wilson receives support from the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

Discipline Sub Group Summary: Melbourne's Insights and Future Paths

Jacintha Bell, WA Director

This April, the Australian Pain Society (APS) Board rolled out the welcome mat for our Discipline Sub Group Forums. The forums were held right after the pre-conference workshops, at the 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in vibrant Melbourne. These dynamic forums brought together representatives from physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology, pharmacy, pharmacology, medicine, occupational therapy and nursing. Their mission? To spark lively, two-way communication between the APS Board and our valued Society membership.

The Discipline Sub Group Forums buzzed with a diverse crowd of 169 attendees, ranging from seasoned pain veterans to enthusiastic first timers. The APS Board is absolutely thrilled with the insightful feedback gathered, which will be instrumental in charting our course for future APS activities. So, what were the hot topics on everyone's minds? Here are some of the key themes that emerged from these engaging discussions:

Strengthening Professional Recognition, Collaboration and Advocacy: A powerful current running through several forums was the desire to amplify professional recognition, foster collaboration, and boost our advocacy muscle. Building on the psychology group's excellent groundwork on their position statement, promising progress is also being made on the Pharmacist Position Statement for Pain Management. Our Occupational Therapists are also keen to craft their own Position Statement, potentially drawing inspiration from the recently released Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) Pain Capability Framework. There is a real appetite from some members to dive deeper into APS research groups and opportunities. We have also identified several areas where advocacy is particularly needed. Support was sought from the APS in championing pain clinicians within some of the discipline-specific bodies, where a lack of focus on pain was noted. Another clear request was for support in advocating for the inclusion of all disciplines in Statewide Models of Care for

pain. And for evidence to truly make an impact, there is a strong push to endorse manualised treatments, particularly for those crucial early interventions.

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Advancing Education and Professional Development: A consistent drumbeat across the board was the call for elevated pain management education and resources for health professionals. Specific educational needs were identified for different disciplines, covering everything from the nuances of prescribing and navigating medico-legal labyrinths, to mastering acute pain management, and even finessing those all-important 'soft skills'. For those craving a multidisciplinary mingling, there was a clear request for more interdisciplinary professional development. Several groups voiced concerns about the surprising lack of comprehensive pain management content in undergraduate training. The consensus? The need to empower the broader health and medical community with a foundational understanding of pain management – because every clinician needs to be a pain champion!

Enhancing Membership Engagement and Support: Our sub groups brainstormed a fantastic array of strategies to boost member engagement and support. One bright idea was to connect with universities to cultivate the next generation of pain professionals through increased student membership. Several groups shared frustrations with the membership application and renewal processes but were pleased to hear that plans are already in motion to simplify these. A common concern was that an annual meeting might not be enough to foster truly meaningful engagement, leading to suggestions for exploring additional connection opportunities throughout the year. On a high note, the painSTAR Pain School initiative received glowing reviews, with participants describing it as "brilliant," "high quality," and "intensive". The Mentorship Pilot program also garnered overall positive feedback. While some appreciated the freedom of a less structured approach, others felt the program could benefit from more scaffolding in its development.

Improving the Website and Communication:

The APS website was a hot topic, with consistent feedback across all disciplines. Most groups highlighted that the website is ripe for improvement. Members expressed frustrations with the current site's outdated appearance and challenging user experience, offering excellent recommendations for enhancements. Suggestions included: easy-to-access printable resources, a dedicated section for the latest research/publications, a handy registry of pain services/clinicians, and a vibrant member connecting platform. And the newsletter? A resounding hit! Many found it incredibly valuable and even suggested that individuals do more to contribute content, whether through "Letters to the Editor" or even advertising vacant positions – what a great way to spread the word!

The 2025 Discipline Sub Group Meetings truly provided a broad variety of valuable feedback, all of which will be thoughtfully considered by the APS Board as we chart our course for future activities. The Society remains steadfast in its commitment to championing a multidisciplinary approach and nurturing the educational and professional growth of our incredible members. We eagerly anticipate your continued engagement and contributions. Keep those brilliant ideas coming!

Announcing the APS/CFK Clinical Research Grant #8

The Australian Pain Society (APS) is a multidisciplinary association whose purpose is to advance pain management through education, research, and advocacy for transformational improvements in clinical care. Our vision is that all people will have optimal pain management throughout life.

Cops for Kids (CFK) is a South Australian based charity focused on supporting initiatives that strive to improve the lives of children in that state. Part of the CFK mandate includes the provision of funds for research to assist in the care of sick children and/or enhance the life quality of a child.

APS is pleased to announce our partnership with Cops for Kids is continuing with an eighth Clinical Research Grant Program

In brief, the award is to enable clinical research meeting the following criteria:

• Achieve a meaningful conclusion in one year

• Conducted in Australia and must be relevant to the South Australian population

• The applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

• The applicant and their supervisor (if applicable) must be members of the Australian Pain Society and its Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group

• The funded project can be related to any aspect of a childhood pain complaint - including theoretical, mechanistic, diagnostic, treatment, epidemiological and/ or sociological approaches; and

• The grant funding of $40,000 (inclusive of GST) will be paid quarterly in arrears upon the submission and acceptance of a combined Progress Report-Acquittal Form

Further information about the Clinical Research Grant can be obtained from the APS Secretariat.

Mentoring available:

To assist with the grant application process and any general queries, past CFK grant recipients have generously offered to conduct several informal online ‘drop in’ sessions on the following dates and times:

a. Thursday 10JUL25 at 1:30-2pm AEST, register here

b. Wednesday 23JUL25 at 1:30-2pm AEST, register here

c. Thursday 07AUG25 at 1:30-2pm AEST, register here

d. Wednesday 20AUG25 at 1:30-2pm AEST, register here

Clinical Research Grant Application forms are available online and must be submitted by: 5pm AEST on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

APS/CFK Clinical Research Grant #1 Where are they now update

By A/Prof Adrienne Harvey

In 2017, I was fortunate to be awarded the Cops for Kids (CFK) Clinical Research Grant #1. The funding allowed the national team I was leading to complete a pilot feasibility study on the use of gabapentin for managing pain in children with dystonic cerebral palsy. The grant was instrumental in building our national research program and embedding our work in children with cerebral palsy, into the pain space.

Since the grant, our research has grown, and we have made significant gains over the past six years. This includes important contributions by PhD students Nadine Smith and Meredith Smith to improve the identification and assessment of pain in children with cerebral palsy. Their work also developed innovative ways to ensure that those with cognitive and communication limitations can self-report their pain, wherever possible.

Based on our research, we have shifted the focus of pain assessment away from pain intensity and location, to focusing on both interference in everyday life and impact on emotional functioning. Our research is also now directed towards understanding the underlying mechanisms of pain in children with cerebral palsy and improving their overall pain management.

Senior Occupational Therapist

Lifeworks Occupational Therapy, WA

Job Reference: N/A

Another great outcome from receiving the grant has been the meeting and collaboration with other clinician researchers, through the Australian Pain Society. Combining the skills and expertise of those with a background in disability with those with a background in pain, provides a rich and unique team collaborating to improve the lives of the children with cerebral palsy. This collaboration also benefits children with other disabilities.

I recommend you consider applying for the CFK#8 grant and take advantage of the mentoring sessions generously offered to assist with the application process.

Clinical Research Grant Application forms are available online and must be submitted by: 5pm AEST on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

Employment Status: Permanent part time or full time

Hours per week: 0.5FTE – Full time

Contact: Heidi Perera (E: careers@lifeworksot.com.au)

Applications Close: 02AUG25

Are you an OT who lives to build deep therapeutic relationships, and celebrates every 'aha!' moment and hard-won victory? Lifeworks Occupational Therapy is searching for brilliant minds to join our growing team in sunny Perth, Western Australia. If you're a Mental Health or Pain Care OT who thrives on innovation, values deep connections, and is passionate about empowering people, then this may be the role for you. We're on a mission: to enable individuals with chronic health conditions, mental health challenges, persistent pain, and neurodivergence to live their fullest lives. Please contact us for further details.

Closing date for applications: 02 August 2025

Report from the ASEAPS Pain Camp and the 10TH ASEAN Pain Congress 27 April – 04 May 2025, Singapore

By Dr Emily Fuakilau, Anaesthetist, Labasa Hospital, Fiji

Firstly, I would like to express my immense gratitude and acknowledgment of the financial aid and welfare support from The Australian Pain Society (APS), The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). I would also like to thank Dr Angela Yeo and her team for ensuring the success of the Association of Southeast Asian Pain Societies (ASEAPS) Pain Camp, as well as the Pain Congress.

Secondly, I would also like to acknowledge Dr Jemesa Tudravu, the Permanent Secretary for Health for approving my work leave to attend. I would also like to thank Dr Lisepa Tabaka, past president of the Pacific Society of Anaesthetists (PSA) and Dr Jocelyn Christopher, my Head of Department in Labasa Hospital who has been the driving force of our Acute Pain Service in Labasa Hospital.

I had heard about Pain Camp since 2016, but this is my first time to attend such an event. I am the fourth person from the PSA to do so. I would not have been able to attend without the support of the organisations and people who I have mentioned above.

My Expectations:

Pain in my practice is low in priority and even lower at the national (Fijian policy) level. Everything feels like an uphill battle, which takes years instead of months to achieve. I went to Pain Camp with only one goal, and that was to learn some technical skills in terms of pain management.

What I Experienced:

The preparation leading up to the Pain Camp was well organised and executed. Consistent communication and follow ups helped build up both the enthusiasm and momentum for the camp. This ensured that nothing was left to chance, ranging from becoming an IASP member, to preparing snacks from our own home countries and an introduction to a Community of Practice (COP) platform. The

communication updates further included the travel and accommodation logistics, which was done months in advance.

Finally, it was time to head to Pain Camp. I arrived in Singapore on 26 April 2025 which gave me enough time to rest (jetlagged) from a 10-hour flight and prepare for the start of the Pain Camp in the evening of 27 April 2025. I was glad to have met Dr Dulce Calado from Timor-Leste the day before, so I knew one familiar face.

Pain Camp was held in a remote location (away from the city centre) and the venue was so peaceful. Every morning, at breakfast, I met more people and made new connections. The isolated venue / accommodation allowed the campers to bond and focus collaboratively on pain training, over the next four and a half days. Pain Camp was intense and it was not what I had expected. To my surprise, I did not achieve the one goal that I had I set myself. Instead, I experienced so much more than my initial expectations. At Pain Camp, I started to learn more about the cultures of the other campers, their backgrounds and the work they were doing in the pain management space. I was very surprised to learn about the role of a clinical psychologist (I had to look it up) and how much physiotherapists are involved. Pain Camp had a diverse range of professionals ranging from neurologists, trauma nurses, anaesthetists, and occupational therapists (OT) to name a few.

The fundamentals of Pain Camp taught me:

1. An introduction to a community of practice (COP) which is the Pain Camp community that exists beyond Pain Camp.

2. What it means to have a pain team in the management of chronic pain, with a brief look at interventional procedures.

3. The concept of interdisciplinary rather than multidisciplinary.

4. Acceptance that I could identify with the struggles and the challenges of my fellow campers working in pain management. My challenges were their challenges too.

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5. The resilience of the other campers and faculty in how they overcome their challenges. Whereas some opportunities may not be available to me, the patience and conviction present during Pain Camp gave me hope.

6. Knowledge about the different facial expressions of pain, especially chronic pain, pediatric pain and cancer pain.

7. The correct understanding and application of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model.

8. Using the ‘Recognise, Assess and Treat’ (RAT) system, as well as developing a case formulation.

9. Integrating fun concepts to learning like mindfulness, pacing and other active pain management strategies.

10. Having a mentor to help achieve our three main ‘Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and

At the end of the pain camp, I was physically drained. However, I felt mentally rejuvenated and inspired to continue the work of pain management in Fiji.

Networking Opportunities:

Networking was one of the biggest highlights of Pain Camp. I met so many wonderful campers, that at the end of Pain Camp I could say we were friends. I met Professor Fiona Blyth who showed me the epidemiological aspect of pain and the burden of pain on society. I hope to keep in touch for future research projects.

My Pain Camp mentor was Dr Lester Jones, whom to my surprise is a physiotherapist. I will be working with him closely to achieve my SMART goals in the next 12 months.

I also met Dr Mary Cardosa (matriarch of Pain Camp. She is the Boss), Professor Michael Nicholas. and Professor Andrew Rice (IASP President) who follows Fiji Rugby.

2025 Pain Camp Group photos

L to R: Dr Emily Fuakilau, Prof Andrew Rice and Dr Dulce Calado

Meeting fellow Pain Campers at breakfast

With my mentor Dr Lester Jones and other Pain Campers

Emily at ASEAPS 2025

Post Camp Goals:

Towards the end of Pain Camp, we set three SMART goals that we could implement when we returned home. The three goals focus on:

What is my goal?

SMART

How will I track my progress

Is my goal realistic?

1. Barriers:

Nursing education in pain management is a barrier. Yes, it is measurable

it is realistic

Send a nurse to Pain Camp Identify a pain nurse Start the advocacy for the pain nurse. Submit a proposal for a pain nurse role in Labasa Hospital

2. Community of Practice:

Start the conversation on Community of Practice

Create awareness amongst the various departments that manage pain

3. General:

Not enough data / information on pain in my hospital/ country

Do a research paper on pain in my hospital/country

Creation of a pain team

Re-focus all our individual efforts in managing pain

Does the goal align with my overall plan? Timely

What is the timeline for my goal to be achieved?

Two years (2027)

Absorb the pain nurse into pain service/clinics. Building the pain team

Creating a community of practice – for pain management

Next Pain Camp

One – two years (2027)

Need to build up a community to have a Fiji chapter of IASP

Gant chart – work plan

10TH ASEAPS PAIN CONGRESS:

All the data is available in our health data base

I was very privileged to attend the ASEAPS Pain Congress after Pain Camp. It was amazing to see some of my fellow campers having submitted abstract presentations during the congress as well. There were many distinguished speakers, experts in their own fields of pain management.

During the Congress, I learnt of two training programs I will be tracking which are:

1. Essential Pain Management (EPM) for Paediatrics – ran for the first time during the Congress, and will be rolled out later during the year

Consolidating data into information to influence policy making in pain management

One year (2026)

Complete 1 paper

2. Online Pain Education Network (OPEN) for pain management – presented during the Congress and will also be available later in the year

To conclude, ASEAPS Pain Camp and the Pain Congress have given me hope and courage to continue the work of pain management despite the challenges in my health setting. It has also gifted me with a community of support, meaning that I no longer feel alone and hopeless when working with chronic pain. I hope to be able to continue to advocate for pain management, at both the local and national level.

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Crosstalk between bone metastatic cancer cells and sensory nerves in bone metastatic progression

Park, S.H., Tsuzuki, S., Contino, K.F., Ollodart, J., Eber, M.R., Yu, Y., Steele, L.R., Inaba, H., Kamata, Y., Kimura, T., Coleman, I., Nelson, P.S., MuñozIslas, E., Jiménez-Andrade, J.M., Martin, T.J., Mackenzie, K.D., Stratton, J.R., Hsu, F.-C., Peters, C.M., Shiozawa, Y., 2024. Crosstalk between bone metastatic cancer cells and sensory nerves in bone metastatic progression. Life Science Alliance 7, e202302041, 12 September 2024

Reviewer: John-Paul Fuller-Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pain and Sensory Mechanisms Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne

DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302041

Review of article

Study group

The relationship between calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) and bone cancer metastasis was studied in multiple models: a mouse model of bone cancer, cultured bone cancer cells, cultured dorsal root ganglia cells (sensory neurons) and patient samples with bone cancer metastasis.

Aims of study

This study aimed to investigate the interactions between CGRP-expressing sensory nerves and metastatic bone cancer cells.

Brief methodology

A mouse model of bone cancer was established via the injection of cancer cells into the bone marrow of the femur. The involvement of CGRP was investigated by immunolabelling CGRP+ nerves in and around the cancer bearing bone, assaying pain behaviour and CGRP levels in serum, and testing the effect blocking of CGRP signalling on bone cancer cells. Sensory neurons from dorsal root ganglia were cultured with media from cancer cells, and cultured cancer cells were analysed for their proliferative capacity following CGRP administration or blockade. Serum, tissue samples and genetic databases from patients with and without

bone cancer metastasis were analysed for CGRP and closely related biomarkers.

Brief summary of the results

Immuno-labelling revealed increased CGRP nerve density in the periosteum of tumourbearing bones in mice. In cell culture experiments, cancer cells directly promoted sensory neuron growth. In patients with bone metastatic cancer, serum levels of CGRP were elevated, and cancer progression was correlated with CGRP receptor expression. When treated with CGRP, cultured cancer cell proliferation increased, with key proteins in the CGRP receptor pathway involved. Despite the implication that CGRP is involved in bone cancer metastasis, pharmacological blockade and global genetic deletion of CGRP failed to completely prevent cancer progression and pain behaviour in mice.

Conclusions

There is a complex interplay between CGRP+ sensory nerves and bone metastatic cancer cells. Elucidating the exact mechanisms of the nerve/cancer interaction may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to treat bone metastasis and bone cancer pain.

Reviewer's critique & take home message from the article

This study clearly points to CGRP as an important mediator of sensory nerve-to-bone cancer communications. However, the failure of blocking CGRP signalling to impact on cancer progression and pain suggests there is more than a single pathway involved. The take home message is that there is a complex interplay between sensory nerves and bone cancers. Whilst sensory nerves are likely to signal bone cancer pain, they may also release factors that can directly promote tumour metastasis to bone. Whether blocking CGRP signalling can be used to prevent bone metastases and bone cancer pain remains to be determined.

Declaration

The reviewer has no competing or conflicting interests in reviewing this article.

Contribution of nerves within osteochondral channels to osteoarthritis knee pain in humans and rats

Aso K, Shahtaheri SM, Hill R, Wilson D, McWilliams DF, Nwosu LN, Chapman V, Walsh DA. Contribution of nerves within osteochondral channels to osteoarthritis knee pain in humans and rats. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2020; 28:1245–54.

Reviewer: Jenny Thai, Research Support Officer, Department of Anatomy & Physiology, University of Melbourne

DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.05.010

Review of article

Study group

This study used human knees from symptomatic chondropathy cases undergoing total knee replacement for osteoarthritis (OA), and asymptomatic chondropathy and nonarthritic control cases selected at post-mortem. The study also used male Sprague-Dawley rat knees with and without meniscal transection (MNX)-induced OA.

Aims of study

OA is a progressive degenerative disease of the joints and surrounding bone, and is characterised by swelling, stiffness, and pain. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is expressed in the joint and subchondral bone of people with OA and rheumatoid arthritis, where it plays a key role in the generation of pain through actions on its high affinity receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA). TrkA is expressed by peptidergic nerves which contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). NGF increases pain by sensitising nerves and stimulating sensory nerve growth. Previous studies have found that CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) sensory nerves colocalise with NGF in the osteochondral channels of patients with knee OA, and increased NGF expression in these channels is associated with symptomatic knee OA. However, it is unclear whether sensory nerve growth contributes to OA pain

and whether NGF/TrkA pathway inhibitors are effective against pathological sensory innervation in OA.

The aim of this study was to determine if CGRP-IR sensory nerves in osteochondral channels are associated with OA pain in humans and rats. The study also aimed to identify the effects of blocking NGF activity on pain behavior and CGRP-IR sensory nerve density in rats with surgically induced OA.

Brief methodology

Rats underwent MNX or sham operation and were administered a TrkA inhibitor (AR786) or vehicle control orally before surgery and twice daily up to 28 days. Pain behavior was assessed as weight-bearing asymmetry and paw withdrawal threshold. Human and rat knee samples were harvested, sectioned coronally, and analyzed at the medial tibial plateau for macroscopic appearance of articular surfaces and OA histopathology. Sections were also taken for immunohistochemical analysis of CGRP-IR sensory nerves, which were measured as a proportion of osteochondral channels containing CGRP-IR nerves.

Brief summary of the results

In humans, symptomatic and asymptomatic chondropathy groups had similar histopathological scores, and both were higher than non-arthritic controls. The percentage of osteochondral channels containing CGRP-IR sensory nerves in symptomatic chondropathy was higher than in asymptomatic chondropathy. In rats, MNX surgery was associated with greater OA structural changes than sham surgery and presented more severe pain behavior. Oral dosing with the TrkA inhibitor, AR786, reversed OA-induced pain behavior but did not alter OA structural changes. The percentage of osteochondral channels containing CGRP-IR nerves was higher in MNX-operated knees compared to sham controls, and treatment with AR786 prevented this increase.

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Conclusions

The results presented in this study suggest a possible role of osteochondral innervation and NGF/TrkA in structural pathology which may contribute to pain in human and rat OA. Increased NGF expression by osteoclasts might induce invasion of CGRP-IR sensory nerves into osteochondral channels. Thus, inhibiting pathological nerve growth by blocking the NGF/ TrkA pathway may reduce OA pain.

Reviewer's critique & take home message from the article

This study suggests that changes in osteochondral innervation might contribute to human and rat OA pain. Targeting aberrant osteochondral innervation with treatments that also reduce pain may provide therapeutic benefit for the management of OA.

However, quantification of CGRP-IR sensory nerves in osteochondral channels is limited by sensitivity of immunohistochemical methods and by the challenge of detecting changes in nerve density in only a few, thin section samples. Samples were taken from the medial tibial plateau, a key weight-bearing area with greatest cartilage loss, but findings could also differ for other joint regions. Current advances in immunolabelling techniques, such as whole bone tissue clearing and neuronal tracing, may resolve some of these challenges and allow for comprehensive mapping of bone innervation patterns in three-dimensions while maintaining the structural quality of the osteochondral channels and bone marrow.

Declaration

The reviewer declares no conflicts of interest.

Developed by the Australian Pain Society in collaboration with the National Ageing Research Institute, this FREE ‘train-the-trainer’ pain management program is for use by sta in both residential aged care facilities and organisations that provide aged care in the community, as well as NDIS providers.

Bite-sized 10 minute training modules!

Eight (8) painACT modules: One for the trainer called “How to use the painACT trainer program”, and seven modules for the trainer to train their sta :

Developed by the Australian Pain Society in collaboration with the National Ageing Research Institute, this FREE ‘train-the-trainer’ pain management program is for use by sta in both residential aged care facilities and organisations that provide aged care in the community, as well as NDIS providers.

is available on the Australian Pain Society website and consists of: > trainer learning module documents > short training video clips, and > participant handout material apsoc.org.au/painACT-Online-Learning

Pharmacologically enabling the degradation of Nav1.8 channels to reduce neuropathic pain

Martin, Molly K.; Rodriguez, Raider; Guerrero, Giselle; Sheehan, Garrett D.; Powell, Rasheen; Klein, Amanda H.; Bhattacharjee, Arin.

Pharmacologically enabling the degradation of NaV1.8 channels to reduce neuropathic pain.

PAIN 166(5):p 1191-1203, May 2025

Reviewer: Jackson Hart, Research Assistant, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne

DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003470

Review of article

Study group

The study used animal models (mice and rats) and human skin and sensory neuron samples.

Aims of study

Nav1.8 is an ion channel expressed by nociceptive neurons and is known to be involved in pain signalling. Systemic administration of Nav1.8 pore-blocking drugs have been used in clinical trials; however, the approach may affect heart function because Nav1.8 channels are present in cardiac nerve fibres. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the efficacy and duration of analgesia resulting from administration of a lipidated peptide mimetic in a mouse model of neuropathic pain. The lapidated peptide mimetic binds locally to membranes at the injection site and disrupts Nav1.8 function by acting on a scaffolding protein (Magi-1) that interacts with Nav1.8. They also sought to evaluate the expression of Magi-1 in rat and human sensory neurons and determine whether this approach could alter Nav1.8 function in rats and humans.

Brief methodology

Immunohistochemistry was used to explore the expression of Magi-1 in peripheral endings of sensory neurons in mouse and human skin. Neuropathic pain behaviour was assayed in mice with chronic constriction injury (CCI), before and after injection of the peptide mimetic or a control peptide into the hind paw. Changes in Nav1.8 expression and function were tested in cultured rat and human sensory neurons

using immunocytochemistry and patch-clamp electrophysiology.

Brief summary of the results

Magi-1 was expressed in peripheral nerve terminal endings of sensory neurons in mouse skin and was co-expressed with Nav1.8 in peripheral nerve terminal endings of human skin. In cultures of both rat and human sensory neurons, incubation with the peptide decreased Nav1.8 expression. Patch-clamp electrophysiology revealed that cultured rat and human sensory neurons were less excitable after administration of the peptide. Mice with CCI had higher withdrawal thresholds, and increased weight bearing for 20 days after a single treatment with the peptide mimetic, but not with the control peptide.

Conclusions

The authors concluded that a single local administration of the peptide mimetic reduces neuropathic pain for an extended period of time. They also demonstrated that the treatment’s mechanism of action may be conserved between humans and rodents, highlighting this approach as a promising alternative to systemic administration of Nav1.8-targeting drugs.

Reviewer's critique & take home message from the article

This study presents promising data for an innovative alternative to currently available analgesics which may have significant sideeffects related to systemic administration or require frequent administration. The long-lasting effect on murine pain behaviour, coupled with a conserved mechanism of action in rodents and humans, further suggests that the approach may facilitate prolonged pain relief for humans. It will be important to identify if there are any longterm side-effects of this treatment and test it in number of different preclinical animal models of pain, to better understand its potential clinical applications.

Declaration

The reviewer has no competing or conflicting interests in reviewing this article.

“It’s kind of just like a never-ending cycle”: Young people’s experiences of co-existing chronic musculoskeletal pain and mental health conditions

Thank you to APS members Professors Helen Slater and Susie Lord, their colleagues Dr Nardia Klem, Dr Samantha Rowbotham, Dr Rob Schutze, Prof Peter O’Sullivan, Prof Anne Smith, Ms Breanna Tory and Prof Jennifer Stinson and for sharing the following recent publication. The authors gratefully acknowledge young people who generously participated and contributed their experiences to this study. Dr Jason Chua is acknowledged for his assistance in building the Qualtrics survey tool.

Article first published online: 30 April 2025

Journal Reference: Klem NR, Briggs AM, Rowbotham S, Schütze R, O’Sullivan PB, Smith AJ, Tory B, Stinson JN, Lord SM, Slater H. “It’s kind of just like a never-ending cycle”: Young people’s experiences of co-existing chronic musculoskeletal pain and mental health conditions. The Journal of Pain, 2025; 32: 105412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105412

Abstract

Background

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) imposes a significant burden on young people (16-24yrs), impacting their physical, social, and emotional wellbeing and functioning during a critical developmental period as they transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The prevalence of mental health conditions also peaks around this age group, with CMP and mental health conditions being frequently comorbid. Existing epidemiological evidence recognises the relationship as bidirectional; however, there is little in-depth qualitative evidence about how young people experience living with co-existing CMP and mental health conditions.

Methods

A Constructivist Grounded Theory approach was used. Young people, 16-24 years, living in Australia with self-reported co-existing CMP and mental health conditions were invited to participate in interviews to explore their lived and health care experiences.

Results

Twenty-one young people were included (five men, one transgender person, one non-binary person, and 14 women). A core category of 'a feedback loop of pain and mental health', characterised the interconnectedness of CMP and mental health in these young people. This feedback loop was influenced both helpfully and unhelpfully by intrapersonal factors (emotions, cognitions, behaviours), interpersonal factors (healthcare interactions, relationships, and sense of self) and their personal context (societal discourse about pain, and mental health including stigma and environmental factors).

Conclusions

This study highlights the complex bidirectional feedback loop between chronic musculoskeletal pain and mental health in young people aged 16-24. These findings emphasise the need for interdisciplinary, whole-person approaches to concurrently address both conditions. Future research should explore the clinical utility of such models.

Declaration

NRK, HS, AMB and SR and BT, were funded by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRF2016567) with co-funding from the Government of Western Australia, Department of Health (WA Health), with support from Curtin University. The authors have no other conflicts to declare.

Online Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Emotion

Dysregulation in People With Chronic Pain A Randomized Clinical Trial

Thank you to APS members Dr Nell NormanNott and Prof Toby Newton-John and their colleagues James McAuley, Nancy Briggs, Negin Hesam-Shariati, Jessie Schroeder, Ashish Diwan, Jina Shu, Jill Newby, Yann Quidé, and Sylvia Gustin for sharing the following recent publication.

Article first published online: 7 May 2025

Journal Reference: Norman-Nott. N., Briggs. N., Hesam-Shariati, N., Wilks, C. R., Schroeder, J., Diwan, A. D., Suh, J., Newby, J., Newton-John, T., Quidé Y., McAuley, J., H. , & Gustin, S. M. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(5):e256908. doi:10.1001/ jamanetworkopen.2025.6908

DOI: doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.6908

Abstract

Objective

To compare the efficacy of online dialectical behavioural therapy for chronic pain plus treatment as usual (iDBT-Pain) with only treatment as usual on emotion dysregulation in people with chronic pain.

Design

This two-arm randomised controlled trial was conducted from March 2023 to September 2024 in Australia. Participants were adults with chronic pain (lasting ≥3 months) and weekly pain intensity of three or higher out of 10 (10 indicating worst pain), without psychotic or personality disorders, and without dementia. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive either iDBT-Pain for nine weeks or treatment as usual only. Intention-to-treat data analyses were performed between August and September 2024.

Methods

The iDBT-Pain group received eight group-based 90-minute therapist-guided online sessions as well as an app and a handbook for self-learning. Content focused on DBT skills training, including

pain science education. Participants in the treatment-as-usual group continued usual care, which consisted of treatment options that can be accessed in the community.

The primary outcome was emotion dysregulation at nine weeks after randomisation. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (score range: 18-90, with higher scores indicating higher emotion dysregulation) was used in assessment. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), pain interference, sleep and wellbeing. Data were collected at baseline, nine- and 21-weeks post randomisation.

Results

Among 89 participants (mean [SD] age, 51.5 [14.2] years; 74 females [83%]), 44 (49%) were randomly assigned to the treatment-as-usual group and 45 (51%) were randomly assigned to the iDBT-Pain group. Overall, 79 participants (89%) completed the nine-week assessment. Betweengroup difference in emotion dysregulation over time favoured iDBT-Pain over treatment as usual at nine weeks (−4.88; 95% CI, −9.20 to −0.55; P = .03; d = −0.46 [95% CI, −0.87 to −0.08]). Benefits extended to depression at nine-weeks (-8.82 [95%CI, -13.89 to -3.74]; P<.001; d = -0.84), and 21-weeks (-7.14 [95%CI, -12.33 to -1.96]; P=.007; d = -0.68), and pain intensity at 21-weeks (-1.31 [95%CI, -2.12 to -0.49]; P=.002; d = -0.95). Between group differences favouring iDBT-Pain were found for anxiety symptoms, stress, PTSS, wellbeing and sleep problems at nine-weeks, but not at 21-weeks.

Conclusions

In this randomised clinical trial, the iDBTPain intervention, delivered through a selflearning and therapist-guided hybrid approach, resulted in sustained improvements in emotion dysregulation in people with chronic pain. Additionally, iDBT-Pain provided sustained improvement in depression symptoms and a clinically significant reduction in pain intensity at

follow-up. Short-term improvements in anxiety symptoms, stress, PTSS, sleep problems, and well-being indicated that the benefits of iDBTPain extended to the adverse effects of chronic pain on key mental health and lifestyle factors.

Implications/Discussion

The findings of this trial have the potential to not only open new avenues for treating chronic pain in an accessible and scalable online environment, but also emphasise the profound impact of emotional health on physical wellbeing. By changing how we manage emotions, the results indicate that it may be possible to change the experience of pain itself. This is not just a temporary relief but a potential long-term improvement in quality of life for those affected by chronic pain.

Declaration

Dr Norman-Nott reported receiving grants from the Australian Commonwealth Government Research Training Program and Neuroscience Research Australia during the conduct of the

study. Dr Briggs reported receiving grants from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation outside the submitted work. Dr Diwan reported receiving grants from Globus Medical-Nuvasive and research funding from Baxter Philanthropy outside the submitted work. Dr Suh reported being employed by Microsoft Research during the conduct of the study. Dr Newby reported receiving grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia during the conduct of the study and grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, KONESKI, Wellcome Trust, and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) outside the submitted work. Prof Newton-John reported receiving a grant from MRFF outside the submitted work. Prof McAuley reported receiving grants from the NHMRC of Australia during the conduct of the study and grants from MRFF outside the submitted work. Prof Gustin reported receiving grants from the NHMRC of Australia, MRFF, New South Wales Health, Wings for Life, and the US Department of Defense during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Have you had an article accepted for publication recently?

The Australian Pain Society (APS) is keen to share publications from our members with their colleagues via our eNewsletter. If you’ve had an article accepted or published recently, please contact our Assistant Editor Joanne Harmon via the APS Secretariat (aps@apsoc.org.au) with the title, authors, and reference (i.e., journal, volume, and DOI) of your article and request the submission template. We would love it if you also supply a short commentary (300 words max) to give our readers the gist of the article.

Help Improve Access to Pain Management Clinics in Australia

Do you live with chronic pain, care for someone who does, or work with people in pain? We’re inviting you to take part in a short survey about accessing pain management clinics in Australia! About the Study

We are conducting a research study to understand which barriers and supports most affect access to tertiary pain management clinic in Australia These are specialised healthcare services that provide care for individuals with severe and complex chronic pain (e g , hospital-based teams)

Who can participate?

• Adults living with chronic pain

• Family members/carers supporting someone with chronic pain

• Healthcare providers who refer patients to or work in pain clinics

What does it include?

• An online survey (around - 30 minutes) https://url au m mimecastprotect com/s/yRsmC6XQJvFr0NmPqHpfzf5lIbX? domain=adelaideuniwide qualtrics com

Scan to Participate

The study has been approved by the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee: H-2022-25/44

Contact Details

Dr Sze Yan Cheung Principal Supervisor szeyan cheung@adelaide edu au

Sanjana Moosapeta Student Researcher

sanjana moosapeta@student adelaide edu au

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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ONLINE: www.dccam.com.au/aps2026

Registrations open 18 November 2025

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Topical Sessions 2 September 2025

Rising Star Award 7 October 2025

Free Papers & Posters 28 October 2025

Early Bird Registration 24 February 2026

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor Yves De Koninck Yves De Koninck is Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval

and interdisciplinary approach to study the pathophysiology of neuromusculoskeletal conditions with the ultimate goal to improve management for patients.

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities or more information please contact the APS Conference Secretariat: DC Conference & Association Management (DCC&A) P: 61 2 9954 4400 E: apsasm@dccam.com.au

NEW!

> The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released the updated Preventing Harm From Falls Guidelines on 26 JUN 25

Other items of interest for our members:

> Latest opioid data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Opioid induced deaths in Australia.

> Australia’s annual overdose report 2024 from the Pennington Institute

> Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation Series: This series explores how healthcare use in Australia varies depending on where people live. It investigates reasons for variation that may be unwarranted, and provides specific achievable actions to reduce unwarranted variation

> ePPOC: electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration: The electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) is an Australasian initiative that aims to improve the quality of care and outcomes for people who experience chronic pain.

> PainHEALTH: painHEALTH‘s aim is to help health consumers with musculoskeletal pain access reliable, evidence-based information and tips to assist in the co-management of musculoskeletal pain. painHEALTH is an initiative of the Department of Health, Western Australia

> Stanford University CHOIR: CHOIR Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry

> Opioid Podcasts for GPs: These podcasts are produced by David Outridge GP, and FAChAM Trainee as a project under the auspices of Dr Steven Kelly Staff Specialist in Addiction Medicine, Kullaroo Clinic Gosford. A weekly series from the Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (University of Newcastle)

> Airing Pain: Pain resources via an online radio show produced by Pain Concern, a UK registered Charity

> Indigenous Resources: Webpage on the APS website aggregating Indigenous resources

> Tame the Beast: Free educational tool that aims to inspire research-based action in the treatment of chronic pain

TGA

> Codeine information hub

NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation resources:

> Brainman and Pain Tool Kit translations

> Pain Management Resources

> Quicksteps to Manage Chronic Pain in Primary Care

> Built into Quicksteps: “How to de-prescribe and wean opioids in general practice”

> A list of helpful apps for consumers and clinicians

> Chronic Pain in the ED

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2025 Australian Pain Society Membership Survey Feedback

By Dr Laura Prendergast, President-Elect

Thank you to everyone who completed the Australian Pain Society (APS) membership survey this year. Answering 40 questions, was no mean feat, so we really appreciate the time taken to provide such comprehensive and detailed comments. This is the third time I have had the privilege to analyse the membership survey for the APS, and I love reading all the constructive feedback. These data are incredibly valuable as they provide information and insights to inform the Board and our new President Bernadette Smith, particularly in preparation for our upcoming biennial Strategic Planning Meeting in August.

Here are some of the key findings from this year’s survey:

• A massive 75% of respondents would recommend joining the APS in the next 12 months. Members are our greatest strength as a society with a wonderfully diverse range of disciplines and experience, so adding to our collective can only enhance what we do. The APS Board and Secretariat have been working hard on making it easier for interested people to join, so please reach out to us if you have any suggestions or need assistance with joining up your friends and colleagues!

• Recent opportunities for networking have been popular. There are more people attending APS social networking events around Australia as well as greater engagement with the APS Mentorship Program. Both programs will be continuing, so please keep an eye out for advertising the next round of the Mentorship Program, and state social networking events in October-November 2025.

• A lot of respondents reported lived experience with pain (over half) or care for family who live with pain (one third) – vastly more than expected in the general population. It seems likely that we as a group self-select to work with pain because of our lived experiences. We have heard requests from members to expand opportunities for engagement with consumers

New Members

as at 23 June 2025

with pain experience and so questions were jointly submitted by our Consumer Policy Working Group (with members from both the Board and Scientific Program Committee). This will inform our long-term strategy to ensure we engage appropriately with consumers with lived experience, while balancing the need for scientifically rigorous professional development for our members.

• You rated our performance strongly on providing great professional development, largely due to the efforts of our hard-working Scientific Program Committee at the Annual Scientific Meetings. However, we can do better on the technological front with many of you providing feedback on our website. There is a lot happening behind the scenes, so please rest assured that we have heard you, and thank you for your specific advice.

• We also heard from some of you that you wish for us to have stronger relationships with other collegiate bodies as well as for APS to raise its profile amongst the general public and in the political arena. While it may not be well known, the APS liaises regularly with the many other bodies shown on our Organisation Chart including our Relationships Committee which meets three times annually. Our current representatives can be found here: Relationships Committee. Regarding advocacy, APS makes regular submissions to government and other stakeholders (recent submissions are detailed here: Australian Pain Society:Advocacy).We also strategically highlight the activities of bodies such as Chronic Pain Australia, which have a mandate to represent the lived experiences of consumers with pain. Please reach out if you wish to discuss this more.

Finally, we loved and very much appreciated the many positive comments and testimonials about your experience of the APS. Thank you for recognising the hard work from everyone who volunteers their time to this great organisation.

Dr Kanishka Dissanayake, Pain Medicine Physician

Mrs Carmen Lynn, Occupational Therapy

Calendar of Events

20-23 July 2025

Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia & New Zealand in conjunction with New Zealand Rehabilitation Association

RMSANZ NZRA 2025 8th Annual Scientific Meeting - Building Lives

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch, NZ

01-03 August 2025

Pharmaceutical Society of AustraliaPSA25

Constructing Excellence

International Convention Centre, Sydney, NSW

08-10 August 2025

Neuromodulation Society of Australia & New Zealand

NSANZ 2025 18th Annual Scientific Meeting

ICC Sydney, NSW

23-30 August 2025

Pain Revolution 2025

Rural Outreach and Cycling Tour

Various venues: Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Maleny, Noosa, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, QLD

04-06 September 2025

International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

NeuPSIG 2025, 9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain

Urania Berlin e.V., Berlin, Germany

08-09 October 2025

National Rural Health Alliance, Australian Rural Health Education Network & Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators

10th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium

Alice Springs Convention Centre, Alice Springs, NT

17 October 2025

Pain Nurses Australia

2025 Annual Professional Day - Pain in Vulnerable Populations

Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW

23-25 October 2025

Australian Physiotherapy Association

Scientific Conference

Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, SA

24-26 October 2025

Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM)

2025 FPM Spring Meeting

Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WA

14-16 November 2025

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

GP25

TBC, Brisbane, QLD

19-21 November 2025

Australian & New Zealand Spinal Cord Society

ANZCoS 2025: Rivers of Innovation

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD

18-21 March 2026

New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS)

NZPS26 - The Right Fit

Christchurch Town Hall, Otautahi Christchurch, NZ

19-22 April 2026

Australian Pain Society

2026 Australian Pain Society 46th Annual Scientific Meeting

Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, SA

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Vision, Purpose & Priorities

Vision:

All people will have optimal pain management throughout life.

Purpose:

The Australian Pain Society is a multidisciplinary association whose purpose is to advance pain management through education, research, and advocacy for transformational improvements in clinical care.

Priorities:

In order to achieve our purpose, the Australian Pain Society will provide:

> Membership

> Research

> Education

> Services and resources

> Good governance and operations

> Advocacy

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Directors

President:

Ms Bernadette Smith

Psychology Plus

South Burnie TAS

Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 995001

President-Elect:

Dr Laura Prendergast

Persistent Pain Management Service

Northern Health

Broadmeadows VIC 3047

Tel: 03 8345 5166 Fax: N/A

Work days Mon & Thu

Secretary:

Mrs Dinah Spratt

Physiotas Physiotherapy

Shearwater TAS 7307

Tel: 03 6428 7500 Fax: 03 6424 7811

Treasurer:

Dr Duncan Sanders

Pain Management Unit,

Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney / Managing Pain Clinic and E3 Physio

Gold Coast QLD

Tel: 07 5620 1234 Fax: 07 3009 042

ACT Director:

Mr Anjelo Ratnachandra

Beyond Pain Pty Ltd

Belmont VIC 3216

Tel: 0400 202 803 Fax: N/A

NSW Director:

Dr Connor Gleadhill

Department of Health and Aged Care

Primary Care Division

Newcastle NSW 2038

Tel: 0405 203 661 Fax: N/A

NT Director:

Dr Amelia Searle

Flinders Medical Centre Pain

Management Unit

Bedford Park SA 5042

Tel: 08 8204 5499 Fax: 08 8204 5440

QLD Director:

Mrs Karla Wright

Fernvale Priceline Pharmacy

Fernvale QLD 4306

Tel: 07 5427 0695 Fax: 07 5427 0698

SA Director:

Ms Heather Gray

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Adelaide SA 5000

Email: heather.gray@sa.gov.au

TAS Director:

Mr Sinan Tejani

Launceston General Hospital

Launceston TAS 7250

Tel: 0469 967 841 Fax: N/A

VIC Director:

Mrs Alison Sim

10 South Sports Medicine

Geelong VIC 3220

Tel: 0488 988 315 Fax: N/A

WA Director:

Ms Jacintha Bell

Lifeworks Occupational Therapy

Mount Lawley WA 6050

Tel: 0451 178 880 Fax: 08 6323 3329

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Office Bearers

Immediate Past President:

Mrs Joyce McSwan

Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Persistent Pain Program, QLD and PainWISE

Tel: 0412 327 795 Fax: 07 3539 9801

SPC Chair:

Professor Kevin Keay

Department of Anatomy

University of Sydney

Sydney NSW 2006

Tel: 02 9351 4132 Fax: 02 9351 2817

IASP Liaison:

Professor Fiona Blyth AM

Sydney School of Public Health

Faculty of Medicine and Health

University of Sydney

Camperdown NSW 2006

Email: Fiona.blyth@sydney.edu.au

Communications Coordinator:

Ms Bernadette Smith

Psychology Plus

South Burnie TAS 7320

Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 9950

Newsletter Editor:

Clinical A/Prof Kylie Bailey

Sagacity Services

Mount Hutton NSW 2290

Tel: 0447 905 085

Newsletter Assistant Editor:

Dr Joanne Harmon

School of Clinical and Health Sciences

University of South Australia

Adelaide SA 5000

Tel: 08 8302 1442

Scholarship/Grant Selection Subcommittee Co-Chairs:

Emeritus Professor Maree Smith AC

Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development

University of Queensland St Lucia QLD 4072

Professor Luke Henderson

Anatomy & Histology, School of Medical Sciences

Brain & Mind Centre

University of Sydney Camperdown NSW 2006

Secretariat:

DC Conference & Association

Management Pty Ltd

PO Box 637

North Sydney, NSW 2059

Tel: 02 9016 4343

Email: aps@apsoc.org.au

Website: apsoc.org.au

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