Poster 114: Cognitive behavioral therapy in chronic low back pain.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the conservative therapy accompanied by cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than conventional conservative therapy (CCT) in treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) and associated physical and psychosocial disabilities. Design: Randomized controlled study. Setting: Hospital. Participants: 40 subjects randomly assigned to the CCT (n=20) and CBT (n=20) groups. Interventions: We performed CBT during 6 sessions, keeping with conservative therapy in the CBT group. Main Outcome Measures: A visual analog scale (VAS) of pain intensity, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, and Pain Disability Index. Patients’ self-reports and observational measures were obtained pre- and posttreatment. Results: Pain intensity in the CBT group decreased ( P<.01). The improvement rate of depressive symptom, dysfunctional attitude, and pain disability in the CBT group was significantly higher compared with that of the CCT group ( P<.01). Conclusions: CBT in CLBP was an effective psychologic intervention in pain management.