Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2009):

Chronic pain syndromes and their treatment by psychological interventions.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Treatment of chronic pain has become a multidisciplinary endeavour including psychological interventions. Databases for life science journals were searched for citations from 2007 and 2008 to determine the current focus of research and the state of evidence. RECENT FINDINGS: Several reviews on systematic research studies confirm that psychological interventions are efficacious in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially back pain, though effect sizes are small and, in some cases, moderate. Findings from clinical practices and treatment centres corroborate these conclusions. The integration of psychological treatment into primary care has not yet proven its utility. Cost-effective interventions to reduce relapse are currently being examined. Psychological headache treatment has again become a topic of research. Evidence is inconsistent, with improvement ranging from an extraordinary size to none at all. Hypnotherapy in children and adolescents with recurrent gastrointestinal pain, examined in a study of high methodological quality, achieved an exceptional level of symptom relief. The aim of two studies on therapy for fibromyalgia and temporomandibular disorder was the identification of mediators and moderators of treatment outcome. SUMMARY: Regarding different pain syndromes such as chronic back pain, headache, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorder, as well as gastrointestinal pain in children, psychological interventions proved their significance for the achievement of favourable treatment outcome.

Author information

Author/s: Kröner-Herwig, Birgit (B);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. bkroene(-atsign-)uni-goettingen.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Current opinion in psychiatry (Curr Opin Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 22 (issue 2) : pp 200-4

Dates: Created 2009/06/25; Completed 2009/09/25;

PMID: 19553876, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 9/25/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adolescent Adult Biofeedback (Psychology) Child Chronic Disease Cognitive Therapy Combined Modality Therapy Humans

Hypnosis Pain - psychology; therapy Psychotherapy Quality of Life - psychology Relaxation Therapy Research Treatment Outcome Young Adult

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

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