title: Does short-term group therapy affect unexplained medical symptoms?
abstract: This paper describes an intensive time-limited group-therapy program conducted in a busy surgical clinic by two nursing staff with the support of a consultant psychiatrist. Nineteen patients with chronic idiopathic facial pain were recruited to the study and underwent weekly group therapy over 8 weeks. At the end of the study period, results showed decreases in pain, anxiety and depression scores, along with an improvement in the patients coping skills. The findings support the use of group psychological interventions undertaken by appropriately trained nursing staff in reducing symptoms associated with chronic idiopathic facial pain.
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feinmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000592:standards*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000592:standards*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome