A Trial of Home-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Arthritis in a Regional Center

Edward Helmes,Department Of Psychology, James Cook University, Australia ,Caltabiano N,Flockhart I

doi:10.19070/2332-3000-1500017

Edward Helmes, Department Of Psychology, James Cook University, Australia + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.19070/2332-3000-1500017

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Abstract

Residents of rural and regional areas often have limited access to health care professionals. This study investigated the ability of a modification of the Arthritis Basics for Change program developed by the American Arthritis Foundation to improve psychosocial functioning in a group of individuals with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis who lived in north- ern Queensland. The program comprised five, home-based sessions spaced over three weeks incorporating an audio CD and two 10-minute telephone consultations. A total of 34 individuals (7 males, mean age 59 years) were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a wait list control group. Measures were administered before, after and at three-months follow up and included the Arthritis Helplessness Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Health Assessment Ques- tionnaire, and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Improvements in both groups were noted in helplessness, anxiety, and depression following the program and at a three-month follow up. No changes were observed for pain, disability, or coping skills across time and between groups. A higher proportion of individuals in the intervention group than in the control group attained clinically significant improvement on the HADS Depression scale. Despite the small sample size, results showed that some significant gains can be made through short, specifically tailored interventions.

Highlights

Arthritis is the second most common chronic pain condition after back pain
With the prevalence of arthritis increasing with age, the increasing number of older people is predicted to lead to increased numbers of individuals experiencing this painful condition
Preand post-treatment differences for probable and possible depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) were obtained (25% before and 0% after the intervention group for possible depression, 6.3% for the control group on both occasions (z = 2.81, p = 0.005)

Summary

Introduction

Arthritis is the second most common chronic pain condition after back pain. With the prevalence of arthritis increasing with age, the increasing number of older people is predicted to lead to increased numbers of individuals experiencing this painful condition. Taal et al, [2] report there are over 200 forms of arthritis, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common. Rheumatoid arthritis is less common, and increases in prevalence with increasing age [3, 6]. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and degeneration of the connective joint tissue [7, 8]. Treatment for most forms of arthritis involves physical rehabilitation, appropriate medication, and as a last resort, surgery

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