title: Effectiveness of an interdisciplinary pain management program for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain.
abstract: Chronic pelvic pain has rarely been discussed in the pain management literature, although it is extremely common in general gynecological practice and often refractory to traditional medical and surgical therapy. A chronic pelvic pain program was developed to offer an alternative treatment approach for women for whom standard gynecological procedures were inappropriate or unsuccessful. Sixteen subjects completed the full 6-8 week interdisciplinary program, which included both somatic and behavioral therapies. Compared to a waiting list control the results showed a dramatic decrease in reported levels of pain following treatment. Anxiety and depression also decreased and psychosocial functioning improved, including return to work, increased social activities, and improved sexual activity. The outcome suggests that the interdisciplinary pain management approach is effective for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CAU.S.A. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los Angeles, CAU.S.A. Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, CAU.S.A.
authors.forename: Linda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Kames
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rapkin
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Naliboff
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Brechner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012917:Social Adjustment