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Objectives: Understanding the psychological processes that underlie the development of a chronic pain problem is important to improve prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to test whether distinct profiles of variables within the fear-avoidance model could be identified and could be related to disability in a meaningful way.

Methods: In 81 persons with a musculoskeletal pain problem, cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups with similar patterns on fear and avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and depression. The clusters were examined cross-sectionally and prospectively on function, pain, health care usage, and sick leave.

Results: Five distinct profiles were found: pain-related fear, pain-related fear + depressed mood, medium pain-related fear, depressed mood, and low risk. These subgroups were clearly related to outcome. In contrast to the clusters medium pain-related fear and low risk, the majority of those classified in the clusters pain-related fear, pain-related fear + depressed mood, and depressed mood reported long-term sick leave during follow-up. The subjects in the clusters with high scores on the depression measure reported the highest percentage of health care usage during follow-up (70% in the pain-related fear + depressed mood group and 42% in the depressed mood group reported >10 health care visits).

Conclusions: Distinct profiles of psychological functioning could be extracted and meaningfully related to future disability. These profiles give support to the fear-avoidance model and underscore the need to address the psychological aspects of the pain experience early on.

There is a serious need to provide effective early interventions that prevent the development of persistent pain and disability. Identifying patients at risk for this development is an important step. Our aim was to explore whether distinct subgroups of individuals with similar response patterns on a screening questionnaire exist. Moreover, the objective was to then relate these groups to future outcomes, for example, sick leave as an impetus for developing tailored interventions that might better prevent chronic problems. A total of 363 patients seeking primary care for acute or subacute spinal pain completed the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire and were then followed to determine outcome. Cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups. Validity was tested using 3 methods including the split-half technique. The subgroups were compared prospectively on outcome measures obtained 1 year later. Using pain intensity, fear-avoidance beliefs, function, and mood, we found 4 distinct profiles: Fear-Avoidant, Distressed Fear-Avoidant, Low Risk, and Low Risk-Depressed Mood. These 4 subgroups were also robust in all 3 of the validity procedures. The 4 subgroups were clearly related to outcome. Although the low risk profiles had virtually no one developing long-term sick leave, the Fear-Avoidant profile had 35% and the Distressed Fear-Avoidant profile 62% developing long-term sick leave. Our results suggest that fear-avoidance and distress are important factors in the development of pain-related disability and may serve as a key for early identification. Providing interventions specific to the factors isolated in the profiles should enhance the prevention of persistent pain and disability.

Objectives: Chronic pain is often associated with suffering. Self-criticism is associated with depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore if fusing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion focused therapy (CFT), could improve psychological wellbeing and disability in chronic pain patients with high levels of self-criticism in comparison to a wait-list control group. 

Methods: Individuals with chronic pain (n=71) were randomly assigned to an 8-week internet-based intervention focused on acceptance and compassion or a wait-list condition. Primary treatments outcomes were Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, and Pain Disability index. Secondary outcomes were Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Anxiety sensitivity index, Quality of Life Inventor, Multidimensional Pain Inventory and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire. 

Results: Missing data at post-intervention was 22.5%. ITT-analyses were conducted using linear mixed-models. Results revealed significantly greater levels of acceptance and self-compassion for the treatment group, which were primary outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from small to large and these results were maintained at six-month follow-up. Rates of clinical significant improvements were also greater for the treatment group in comparison to the wait-list control group on acceptance and compassion. Results in the third primary outcome showed also improvements in disability levels. Significant differences were also found in several of the secondary outcomes, in favour for the treatment group.

Discussion: Internet-based ACT with CFT components shows promise as a viable treatment option in the management of chronic pain.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common and disabling chronic pain disorder, for which existing pharmacological and psychological treatments have yet yielded insufficient effects. Previous literature has shown that exposure therapy may be an effective treatment for chronic pain. This study constitutes the first randomized controlled trial evaluating exposure therapy for FM.

Methods: A total of 140 participants with diagnosed FM were randomized to a 10-week Internet-delivered exposure treatment (iExp; n=70) or a waitlist control condition (WLC; n=70). Primary outcome measure were FM symptoms and impact, and secondary outcome measures were fatigue, disability, quality of life, pain-related distress and avoidance behaviors, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.

Results: Data retention was high (100% data completion at posttreatment for primary outcome, 96% at 6-month follow-up and 94% at 12-month follow-up). Results showed that participants in the iExp group made large and superior improvements compared with WLC on FM symptoms and impact (B, ?1.93; z, ?10.14; P<0.001, betweengroup Cohen d=0.90), as well as all secondary outcomes (betweengroup Cohen d ranging from 0.44 to 1.38) with sustained results.

Conclusions: We conclude that iExp seems to be an efficacious treatment for FM compared with no treatment, and the results also highlight the potential increase of accessibility by using the Internet format to deliver psychological treatments for these patients. Future trials with active control conditions are warranted.

Background and Objectives: To date, few studies have compared Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for longstanding pain with established treatments. Only 1 study has evaluated the cost-effectiveness of ACT. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ACT and applied relaxation (AR) for adults with unspecific, longstanding pain.

Materials and Methods: On the basis of the inclusion criteria 60 consecutive patients received 12 weekly group sessions of ACT or AR. Data were collected pretreatment, midtreatment, and posttreatment, as well as at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Growth curve modeling was used to analyze treatment effects on pain disability, pain intensity, health-related quality of life (physical domain), anxiety, depression, and acceptance.

Results: Significant improvements were seen across conditions (pretreatment to follow-up assessment) on all outcome measures. Pain disability decreased significantly in ACT relative to AR from preassessment to postassessment. A corresponding decrease in pain disability was seen in AR between postassessment and 6-month follow-up. Pain acceptance increased only in ACT, and this effect was maintained at 6-month follow-up. Approximately 20% of the participants achieved clinically significant change after treatment. Health economic analyses showed that ACT was more cost-effective than AR at post and 3-month follow-up assessment, but not at 6-month follow-up.

Discussion: More studies investigating moderators and mediators of change are needed. The present study is one of few that have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of ACT and AR and compared ACT with an established behavioral intervention, and the results provide additional support for behavioral interventions for longstanding pain.

OBJECTIVES: Pathomechanisms of work-related myalgia are poorly understood. Myalgia is thought to be caused by excitation of nociceptors present in the muscular tissue but not in the muscle fiber itself. Muscle contraction in combination with hypoxia is known to excite nociceptors. Morphologic analysis can contribute to the knowledge of the excitation of nociceptors. This study thoroughly examines the morphology of the trapezius muscle's capillary supply and signs of disturbed oxidative metabolism to understand their role in work-related myalgia. METHODS: Surgical trapezius muscle biopsies were obtained from 25 female cleaners with long-standing work-related myalgia, 25 female cleaners without trapezius myalgia, and 21 healthy teachers. Enzyme and immunohistochemical stainings were performed to highlight fibers with aberrant intermyofibrillar patterns, indicating a disturbed oxidative metabolism (also known as moth-eaten fibers) and a disturbed capillary supply of different fibers. RESULTS: A significantly lower number of capillaries per fiber area in cleaners suffering from myalgia compared with cleaners without trapezius myalgia was found. Moth-eaten fibers were found in the 3 groups, but these fibers were significantly more prevalent in the groups of cleaners than in the healthy teacher group. CONCLUSION: This work indicates that the capillary supply of trapezius is affected in work-related trapezius myalgia. More studies are needed to understand possible mechanisms that would explain the occurrence of moth-eaten fibers.

Objective: To test the predictive utility of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire in identifying patients at risk for developing persistent back pain problems. Design: Prospective, where participants completed the questionnaire and their cases were followed for 6 months to assess outcome with regard to pain, function, and absenteeism due to sickness. Participants: One hundred seven patients, recruited from seven primary care units. Results: Discriminant analyses showed that the items on the questionnaire were significantly related to future problems. For absenteeism due to sickness, 68% of the patients were correctly classified into one of three groups, whereas an even distribution would have produced 33%. The analyses for function correctly classified 81%, and for pain 71%, into one of two groups, compared with a chance level of 50%. A total score analysis demonstrated that a cutoff score of 90 points had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 65% for absenteeism due to sickness, and a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 79% for functional ability. Conclusions: The results underscore that psychological variables are related to outcome 6 months later, and they replicate and extend earlier findings indicating that the Örebro Screening Questionnaire is a clinically reliable and valid instrument. The total score was a relatively good predictor of future absenteeism due to sickness as well as function, but not of pain. The results suggest that the instrument could be of value in isolating patients in need of early interventions and may promote the use of appropriate interventions for patients with psychological risk factors.

Objective: Recent recommendations suggest that reassuring patients with an acute bout of low back pain and encouraging a return to normal activities may be helpful in preventing the development of chronic disability. There is also a question as to whether psychologic or physical therapy interventions actually add anything to such reassurance and advice in terms of preventing chronicity. This study aimed to ascertain the preventive effects on future sick leave and health-care utilization of adding on a cognitive-behavioral group intervention or a cognitive-behavioral group intervention and preventive physical therapy (focused on activity and exercise) relative to a minimal treatment group (examination, reassurance, and activity advice).

Subjects: A total of 185 patients seeking care for nonspecific back or neck pain who were employed and at risk for developing long-term disability volunteered to participate in the study. Of these 185, 158 (85%) completed the pre- and 1-year follow-up assessments.

Results: Significant differences were observed on the key outcome variables of future health-care utilization and work absenteeism. For health-care utilization, the cognitive-behavioral intervention group and preventive physical therapy group had significantly fewer healthcare visits than did the Minimal Treatment Group. For work absenteeism, the cognitive-behavioral intervention group and cognitive-behavioral intervention and preventive physical therapy group had fewer days during the 12-month follow-up than did the Minimal Treatment Group. The risk for developing long-term sick disability leave was more than five-fold higher in the Minimal Group as compared with the other 2 groups. However, there was no difference between the cognitive-behavioral intervention group and cognitive-behavioral intervention and preventive physical therapy group on sick leave.

Conclusion: Taken as a whole, this study shows that adding cognitive-behavioral intervention and cognitive-behavioral intervention and preventive physical therapy can enhance the prevention of long-term disability. There was no substantial difference in the results between the cognitive-behavioral intervention group and cognitive-behavioral intervention and preventive physical therapy group.

BACKGROUND: Because musculoskeletal pain problems are so prevalent, new methods of evaluating and treating patients are needed to increase effectiveness. Subgrouping is a method wherein patients are classified into defined groups on the basis of psychosocial factors with the expectation of more specific and tailored treatments can be prescribed for them. For those seeking care for a new episode, the risk of developing chronic pain-related disability is assessed, whereas, for those with existing pain, the risk for the maintenance of the chronic pain problem is evaluated.

AIM: The purpose of this narrative review is to examine how patients are classified into subgroups with regard to methods of evaluation and to ascertain whether subgrouping actually facilitates treatment.

RESULTS: For the development of disability, screening tools, for example, the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire, accurately stratify patients into groups (eg, high, medium, low risk) that predict future pain-related work disability. In addition, several studies show that treatments that directly key in on risk groups enjoy enhanced outcomes compared with treatment as usual. For the maintenance of chronic musculoskeletal pain problems, there are several instruments that classify patients into specific groups or profiles, for example, on the basis of the avoidance and endurance model or the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) assessment. Although some evidence shows that these classifications are related to treatment outcome, we found no study that directly tested a system for providing treatment matched to the subgrouping for maintenance.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that it is possible to reliably subgroup patients with musculoskeletal problems. Likewise, treatments that address the risk factors in the screening procedure may enhance outcomes compared with treatment as usual. More work is needed, however, to better understand the mechanism, so that assessment methods can be improved, and treatment specific to subgroups can be developed and evaluated.

OBJECTIVES: There is preliminary evidence for the efficacy of positive psychology interventions for pain management. The current study examined the effects of an internet-based positive psychology self-help program for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and compared it with an internet-based cognitive behavioural program.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out with three conditions: an internet-delivered positive psychology program, an internet-delivered cognitive behavioural program and waitlist control. A total of 276 patients were randomized to one of the three conditions and post treatment data were obtained from 206 patients. Primary outcomes were happiness, depression and physical impairments at post-treatment and at six months follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses were carried out using mixed regression analyses.

RESULTS: Both treatments led to significant increases in happiness and decreases in depression. Physical impairments did not significantly decrease compared to waitlist. Improvements in happiness and depression were maintained until six months follow-up. There were no overall differences in the efficacy of the two active interventions but effects appeared to be moderated by education. Patients with a higher level of education profited more from the positive psychology intervention than from the cognitive behavioural program.

DISCUSSION: The results suggest that an internet-based positive psychology self-help intervention for the management of chronic pain is clinically useful. Because the self-help exercises as used in the current program do not require therapist involvement, dissemination potential is large. Further studies should examine whether it can best be used as stand-alone or add-on treatment combined with established pain treatment programs.

Background: The evaluation of tenderness associated with greater trochanteric pain (GTP) syndrome is amenable to bias and depends on the examiner's experience. In this study, we tested whether the use of an electronic pressure algometer enhanced the reliability of this evaluation.

Patients and methods: Pressure-pain threshold (PPT) was measured with an electronic algometer in 18 patients who developed GTP after total hip arthroplasty and in matched controls. Both groups were evaluated with visual analog scale.

Results: The PPT measurements showed large interindividual variability across patients. The correspondence of the PPT measurements in asymptomatic patients was good. We found good validity for the algometer used. The PPT ratio of 0.8 (affected vs. unaffected side) can be used as a cut-off ratio. The PPT measurements at the greater trochanter (local pain) were significantly lower than at the ilio-tibial band (radiated pain). There was no correlation between PPT measurements and visual analog scales. Despite the acceptable sensitivity and specificity of pressure algometer, because of low positive predictive value and large interindividual variability, pressure algometer has a limited value as a screening test.

Conclusions: The examination of tenderness associated with GTP is facilitated by the used algometer. It is the intraindividual body-side PPT differences that yield the most sensitive measurement for the assessment of deep pain. A cut-off value of 0.8 can be used for diagnostic purposes. Interindividual differences might be considerable and could mask pathologic diagnostic findings.

OBJECTIVES: We recently developed a transdiagnostic exposure treatment ("the hybrid treatment") for chronic pain patients with concurrent emotional difficulties. This paper investigates the hypothesized treatment processes, specifically: a) if changes on pain-related dysregulation (catastrophizing, fear-avoidance and non-acceptance of pain) and general emotion dysregulation (difficulties to regulate a broad spectrum of emotional responses) mediate effects on outcomes; and b) if mediation is more pronounced for patients who score higher on these processes pre-treatment.

METHODS: Structural equation modeling for longitudinal data using the full intention-to-treat sample was used to test whether proposed variables mediated the effect of the hybrid treatment (n=58) compared to a guided internet delivered pain management treatment based on cognitive-behavioral principles (iCBT; n=57) on pain interference and depressive symptoms at 9-months follow up. To make full use of the multiple process-measures collected in the trial, we modeled mediators as two continuous latent variables: pain-related dysregulation and general emotion dysregulation.

RESULTS: Reduced pain-related dysregulation mediated the effects of treatment on both outcomes, whereas reduced general emotion dysregulation mediated the effects on depressive symptoms only. In the hybrid treatment, the mediated effect was more pronounced for participants who scored higher on pain-related dysregulation pre-treatment relative to those who scored lower.

DISCUSSION: Our findings provide initial support for the transdiagnostic theoretical underpinnings of the hybrid treatment model. Using a hybrid treatment approach that centers on teaching patients emotion regulation skills before commencing broad exposure, successfully influenced both pain-related dysregulation and general emotion dysregulation, which in turn was associated with better treatment outcomes. It appears central to address these processes in pain patients with comorbid emotional problems, especially among patients scoring high on measures regarding catastrophizing, fear-avoidance and non-acceptance of pain.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate prognostic factors for long-term (≥6 mo) physical functioning in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain following multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic searches conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL revealed 25 original research reports, published 1983-2016, (n=9436). Potential prognostic factors relating to initial pain and physical and psychological functioning were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively in random effects meta-analyses. The level of evidence (LoE) was evaluated with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

RESULTS: Pain-related factors (intensity and chronicity) were not associated with function/disability at long-term follow-up, odds ratio (OR)=0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65-1.07 and OR=0.97; 95% CI, 0.93-1.00, respectively (moderate LoE). A better function at follow-up was predicted by Physical factors; higher levels of initial self-reported functioning, OR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13 (low LoE), and Psychological factors; low initial levels of emotional distress, OR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.92, low levels of cognitive and behavioral risk factors, OR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.93 and high levels of protective cognitive and behavioral factors, OR=1.49; 95% CI, 1.17-1.90 (moderate LoE).

DISCUSSION: While pain intensity and long-term chronicity did not predict physical functioning in chronic pain patients after MDR, poor pretreatment physical and psychological functioning influenced the prognosis negatively. Thus, treatment should further target and optimize these modifiable factors and an increased focus on positive, psychological protective factors may perhaps provide an opening for yet untapped clinical gains.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to describe fear-avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and emotional distress among musculoskeletal pain patients in primary healthcare and to explore the relationship of psychological risk profiles for pain, function, and sick leave from baseline through 1-year and 3-year follow-ups.

Methods: Ratings from 110 musculoskeletal pain patients were collected and cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups with similar patterns on fear-avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and emotional distress. The clusters were examined cross-sectionally and prospectively on sick leave, function, and pain.

Results: Five distinct profiles were found: “low scores cluster,” “high score cluster,” “fear-avoidance beliefs and catastrophizing cluster,” “distress only cluster,” and “medium catastrophizing cluster.” The “low scores cluster” and “distress only cluster” had the most favorable scores on outcome variables. The analysis of common developmental pathways showed considerable stability over time. Reorganization of clusters in a psychological “high risk cluster” and a “low risk cluster” showed significant differences at 1-year and 3-year follow-ups in functional ability as well as in decreased sick leave. There were no significant differences between the groups on average pain ratings at the 2 measure points.

Conclusions: Distinct profiles of catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, and emotional distress were extracted and meaningfully related to future sick leave and dysfunction outcomes. The structures of the profiles were essentially stable and became more accentuated across a 3-year period. The results underscore the need to address psychological aspects as fear-avoidance beliefs, catastrophizing, and emotional distress in the management of patients with musculoskeletal pain and may open the path for a better tailored treatment approach for this patient group.