Guided Internet‐delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic pain patients who have residual symptoms after rehabilitation treatment: Randomized controlled trial. (9th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buhrman, M.; Fredriksson, A.; Edström, G.; Shafiei, D.; Tärnqvist, C.; Ljótsson, B.; Hursti, T.; Gordh, T.; Andersson, G.
• Is Part Of: European journal of pain. Volume 17:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 753
• Page End: 765
• Publication Date: 2012-11-09
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Pain -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00244.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3801

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ejp244-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Chronic pain can be treated with cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in multidisciplinary settings. However, relapse is likely, and there is a need for cost‐effective secondary interventions for persons with residual problems after rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a guided Internet‐delivered cognitive behavioural intervention for patients who had completed multidisciplinary treatment at a pain management unit.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp244-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 72 persons with residual pain problems were included in the study and were randomized to either treatment for 8 weeks or to a control group who were invited to participate in a moderated online discussion forum. The participants had different chronic pain conditions, and a majority were women (72%). Twenty‐two percent of the participants dropped out of the study before the post‐treatment assessment.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp244-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Intent‐to‐treat analyses demonstrated differences on the catastrophizing subscale of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (Cohen's <italic>d</italic> = 0.70), in favour of the treatment group but a small within‐group effect. Differences were also found on other measures of pain‐related distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. A 6‐month follow‐up exhibited maintenance of improvements.</p> </sec> <sec id="ejp244-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>We conclude that Internet‐delivered treatment can be partly effective for persons with residual problems after completed pain rehabilitation.</p> </sec> </abstract>