The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Neuropathic Pain: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

<i>Objective: </i>A systematic review of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and traditional non-drug methods in the treatment of neuropathic pain and anxiety. <i>Method: </i>PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Wanfang Database (WANFANG), China Knowledge Network (CNKI), VIP (VIP) and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were electronically searched from the establishment of the database to March 2021 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) of the treatment of neuropathic pain. Two researchers independently carried out literature screening, data extraction and methodological quality evaluation, and cross-checked, and used RevMan5.3 software for Meta analysis. <i>Results: </i>A total of 15 RCTs with 1274 subjects were included, including 606 cases in the CBT group and 668 cases in the traditional treatment group. Meta-analysis results show that, compared with traditional non-drug treatments, CBT can significantly reduce neuropathic pain scores (MD=-0.55, 95%CI=-0.81~-0.29), and improve patients’ depression and anxiety (Baker Depression Scale), MD=-2.23, 95%CI=-3.84~-0.82; Hamilton Anxiety Scale, MD=-4.25, 95%CI=-6.20~-2.29). <i>Conclusion:</i> Current evidence shows that CBT has a good clinical effect on reducing neuropathic pain and improving patients' depression and anxiety. It can be used as a non-drug treatment for neuropathic pain in clinics, communities and families.