title: Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of psychological treatments for chronic pain: relevance to an evidence-based practice.
abstract: As evidence-based practitioners become more reliant on systematic reviews to inform treatment, it becomes important to systematize reporting details as well as improve the quality of the primary studies that will later be incorporated into this secondary literature. In this article, the authors consider several specific factors that can serve this function in the area of chronic pain: (a) adhering to a standardized set of reporting standards; (b) measuring a standardized set of short- and long-term outcome variables; (c) providing information about individual differences; and (d) providing detailed, easily accessible documentation of the treatment program (or progams). The article also highlights ways that practitioners and researchers can collaborate on treatment outcome research, thereby improving the ability to discover and disseminate effective treatments for patients who suffer from chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348, USA. Bthorn@as.ua.edu
authors.forename: Beverly E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Thorn
authors.forename: Tony H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Barbara B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012196:Review Literature as Topic