Treatment outcomes in group ‐based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain: An examination of PTSD symptoms

ConclusionsNeither traumatic exposure nor baseline symptoms of PTSD predicted the treatment outcomes examined here. Despite improvements in both comorbid depression and anxiety, participation in this pain ‐focused CBT program was not associated with improvements in comorbid PTSD. To the extent that changes in PTSD symptoms did occur, these were mediated by changes in psychological inflexibility during treatment.SignificancePain ‐focused CBT programs yield clinically meaningful improvements in pain and comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety, but may have little effect on comorbid PTSD. This raises the issue of whether current pain‐focused CBT programs can be modified to improve outcomes for comorbid conditions, per haps by better targeting of psychological flexibility, and/or whether separate treatment of PTSD may be associated with improved pain outcomes.

Source: European Journal of Pain - January 5, 2020 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Sophia Åkerblom, Sean Perrin, Marcelo Rivano Fischer, Lance M McCracken Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research