The internet offers a range of opportunities for providing individuals with advice and potentially assisting their medical condition, yet research in this area can be limited or fledgling.

In one study, Swedish researchers looked at whether internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment could help people with chronic back pain. Cognitive behaviour therapy seeks to educate and inform, to change beliefs and patterns of thinking about a condition.

50 people with long term back pain were interviewed and half were allocated to the internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment. 

The researchers wanted to look at whether people were better able to cope after the internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment. They assessed this using a specific questionnaire, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ).

The researchers found that there was a significant improvement in the levels of catastrophising in the treatment group. 58 per cent of the group who underwent the internet-based cognitive behaviour treatment had an improvement in their pain catastrophising. This compared with improvement in 18 per cent of the control group.

There was no significant improvement in other outcome measures in the coping strategies questionnaire.

The researchers suggest that the internet-based treatment could assist to improve pain levels for people with chronic back pain, particularly for those who preferred to use the internet rather than attending in person, or live in remote regions and have difficulty accessing specialised treatment.
 

Authors

Buhrman M, Nilsson-Ihrfeldt E, Jannert M, Ström L, Andersson G.

Institution

Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden.

Title

Guided internet-based cognitive behavioural treatment for chronic back pain reduces pain catastrophizing: a randomized controlled trial.

Source

J Rehabil Med. 2011 May;43(6):500-5.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an Internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention would have an effect on the symptoms of chronic back pain.

DESIGN: Experimental design with a treatment group and a control group measured before and after a treatment period.

SUBJECTS: Participants who met the criteria for chronic back pain (n = 54).

METHODS: All participants were screened in a live, structured interview before inclusion. The study period was 12 weeks and the treatment consisted of education, cognitive skills acquisition, behavioural rehearsal, generalization and maintenance. The main outcome of interest was the catastrophizing subscale of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire.

RESULTS: There were statistically significant reductions from pre- to post-treatment in catastrophizing in the treatment group, and an improvement in quality of life for the treatment group. However, most outcome measures did not indicate a positive treatment outcome. On a scale measuring pain catastrophizing, 58% (15/26) of the treated participants showed reliable improvement, compared with 18% (5/28) of the control group.

CONCLUSION: Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy can serve as a complement for individuals with chronic pain who prefer this treatment and have difficulties accessing specialist treatment facilities.

PubMed Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21533329