Cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Illness perceptions have been shown to predict patient activities. Therefore, studies of the effectiveness of a targeted illness-perception intervention on chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) are needed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment of illness perceptions against a waiting list for patients with CLBP. DESIGN: This was a prospectively registered randomized controlled trial with an assessor blinded for group allocation. SETTING: The study was conducted in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 156 patients (18-70 years of age) with CLBP (>3 months). INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or to a waiting list (control) group. Trained physical therapists and occupational therapists delivered 10 to 14 one-hour treatment sessions according to the treatment protocol. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was change in patient-relevant physical activities (patient-specific complaints questionnaire). The secondary outcome measures were changes in illness perceptions (illness perceptions questionnaire) and generic physical activity level (quebec back pain disability scale). Measurements were taken at baseline (0 weeks) and after treatment (18 weeks). RESULTS: A baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance showed that there were statistically significant differences between intervention and control groups at 18 weeks for the change in patient-relevant physical activities. This was a clinically relevant change (19.1 mm) for the intervention group. Statistically significant differences were found for the majority of illness perception scales. There were no significant differences in generic physical activity levels. LIMITATIONS: Longer-term effectiveness was not studied. CONCLUSIONS: This first trial evaluating cognitive treatment of illness perceptions concerning CLBP showed statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in patient-relevant physical activities at 18 weeks.

Overlap of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: A wide variety of cognitive concepts have been shown to play an important role in chronic widespread pain (CWP). Although these concepts are generally considered to be distinct entities, some might in fact be highly overlapping. The objectives of this study were to (i) to establish inter-relationships between self-efficacy, cognitive coping styles, fear-avoidance cognitions and illness beliefs in patients with CWP and (ii) to explore the possibility of a reduction of these cognitions into a more limited number of domains. METHODS: Baseline measurement data of a prospective cohort study of 138 patients with CWP were used. Factor analysis was used to study the associations between 16 different cognitive concepts. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in three factors: 1) negative emotional cognitions, 2) active cognitive coping, and 3) control beliefs and expectations of chronicity. CONCLUSION: Negative emotional cognitions, active cognitive coping, control beliefs and expectations of chronicity seem to constitute principal domains of cognitive processes in CWP. These findings contribute to the understanding of overlap and uniqueness of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain.

Best candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in chronic low back pain: results of a theory-driven predictor study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify treatment-specific predictors of the effectiveness of a method of evidence-based treatment: cognitive treatment of illness perceptions. This study focuses on what treatment works for whom, whereas most prognostic studies focusing on chronic non-specific low back pain rehabilitation aim to reduce the heterogeneity of the population of patients who are suitable for rehabilitation treatment in general. DESIGN: Three treatment-specific predictors were studied in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain receiving cognitive treatment of illness perceptions: a rational approach to problem-solving, discussion skills and verbal skills. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to assess their predictive value. Short-term changes in physical activity, measured with the Patient-Specific Functioning List, were the outcome measure for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions effect. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain participated in the study. Rational problem-solving was found to be a significant predictor for the change in physical activity. Discussion skills and verbal skills were non-significant. Rational problem-solving explained 3.9% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: The rational problem-solving scale results are encouraging, because chronic non-specific low back pain problems are complex by nature and can be influenced by a variety of factors. A minimum score of 44 points on the rational problem-solving scale may assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions.