The following are excerpts
from the study published in Pain Research and Management (The Journal of the
Canadian Pain Society) entitled "Outpatient cognitive- behavioural treatment
of fibromyalgia: Impact on pain response and health status":
Authors Warren Nielson PhD CPsych
Manfred Harth MD FRCPC
David Bell MD FRCPC
Method:
101 patients participated in the four week Rheumatology Day Care Program that
included psychological, family educational, occupational therapy and physiotherapy
interventions. Evaluation of patient status occured at admission, discharge,
and at follow-up intervals of one, three, six and twelve months.
Results:
On the average, pain response and health status improved following the
intensive cognitive-behavioural treatment. These effects persisted at
the one year follow-up, albeit slightly weaker than at discharge. The largest
effects observed were on the indexes reflecting emotional status and general
well-being.
The complete abstract summarizing study results can be found here.
Detailed Observations:
Patient condition was evaluated on four major dimensions:
1) response to pain
2) health status
3) level of distorted thinking and pain-related worry
4) number of “tender points”
Observations are as follows under the above noted categories:
Pain Response
At discharge, strongest treatment effects were obtained for life control and
emotional distress, with pain severity and life interference showing more moderate
effects. At follow-up, life control and life interference showed the strongest
effect.
Health Status
All variables under this measured dimension except physical impairment improved
between admission and discharge. Strongest improvements were observed for the
“feel good” and anxiety scales, with the most moderate changes occuring
on the depression, stiffness and pain scales. At follow-up, scores from the
physical impairment, feel good and anxiety scales were significantly improved
over levels recorded at admission.
Emotional Thinking and Worry
Improvements were found in the emotional thinking and worry scales between admission
and discharge, with the worry scale in particular improving further over the
twelve month follow-up period.
Tender Point Count
No significant changes occured in this area.
Note:
These results have been summarized from the original source article. More detail
can be obtained through Dr.
Warren Nielson, Program Director.