Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is now being trialled, to improve the wellness and wellbeing of elderly patients who are suffering from chronic pain. The study seems to show that managing chronic pain using these types of methods can significantly improve the quality of life for those who suffer the adverse effects of ongoing pain and discomfort.
The CBT techniques were also combined with an exercise regime, in the study, showing that fitness can also be a contributing factor to the quality of life of those suffering from chronic pain.
Including 141 patients over the age of 65, the trial studied those who had been suffering from chronic pain (not related to cancer) for a period of at least six months. Those in the trial were divided up into three groups randomly and assigned a method of intervention: PSM, waiting list control or exercise control.
The PSM group received eight two-hour long sessions with a psychologist, who talked to them about pain management and helped them to learn some self pain-management techniques. They also saw a physiotherapist who helped them with exercise techniques. The exercise group received the physiotherapy help only, without the psychological input, and the waiting list control group received no help.
The study showed that patients in the PSM group showed significant improvements in their pain control, when compared to the exercise-only group. Pain was measured in terms of distress, disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, self-efficiency, depression and functional reach.
Even after the treatment ended, the PSM group had a significantly better quality of life when compared to the exercise-only group. This seems to show that cognitive behaviour methods combined with exercise can help to improve life for chronic pain sufferers.
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