title: Does psychiatric treatment help patients with intractable chronic pain?
abstract: Tricyclic antidepressants and intensive multidisciplinary programs are moderately effective for reducing chronic back pain; tricyclics are also effective for diabetic neuropathy and irritable bowel syndrome (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, meta-analyses and multiple small randomized controlled trials). Cognitive therapies are modestly effective for reducing pain in the following: chronic back pain, other chronic musculoskeletal disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (SOR: B, multiple meta-analyses with significant heterogeneity), and for chronic cancer pain (SOR: B, 1 meta-analysis of various quality studies).
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Winchester, VA, USA.
authors.forename: J Williams
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nashelsky
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic