By With so many people suffering from chronic pain around the country, there are always new ways and research coming about to add to what we already know. These new studies and treatments add to our bevy of options when it comes to trying to help people with chronic pain management. Those who are already receiving physiological treatment may also want to add in some behavioral therapy, too.
Research that was conducted out of the University of London was published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. The researchers found that adding in contextual cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) may help ease physiological stress in chronic pain patients. They report that the CCBT helped to make the physiological treatment more effective, thus bringing about better treatment outcomes (1).
The patients in the study all suffered from chronic pain and were undergoing physiological treatment. The patients, all of whom had low back pain for at least three months, were characterized as being in distress and were avoiding everyday activities because of their condition. All of the patients in the study were randomly selected to either receive CCBT or just physiotherapy. Their therapy lasted for eight weeks and was done over an 18-month period. They concluded that the best outcomes came from the patients who participated in the CCBT.
Researchers report that the cognitive therapy was provided by trained psychologists, and that one-on-one therapy is a more effective approach than group therapy sessions. The cognitive therapy sessions focused on acceptance of the pain. They worked with the patients to help them understand that even though the pain cannot be cured, they can live a fuller life in their present condition by becoming more accepting of it. They essentially helped them to think differently about their chronic pain, and learn to accept it as a part of their life, as a coping method.
The great news in all this is that there is another option available to those suffering from chronic back pain and undergoing physiological treatment for it. Adding in cognitive behavioral therapy may go a long way toward helping to not only learn to cope better with the pain, but to improve the overall quality of one’s life.
Sources
1. Painweek. Psychological, Physiological Modality Integration for Chronic Back Pain Treatment. <http://www.painweek.org/news_posts/psychological-physiological-modality-integration-for-chronic-back-pain-treatment/>
