Psychological interventions for arthritis pain management in adults: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The psychosocial impact of arthritis can be profound. There is growing interest in psychosocial interventions for managing pain and disability in arthritis patients.


OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis reports on the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for arthritis pain and disability.


METHODS
Articles evaluating psychosocial interventions for arthritis were identified through Cochrane Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid PsycINFO data sources.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in arthritis pain management were reviewed.


METHODS
Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Pain intensity was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included psychological, physical, and biological functioning.


RESULTS
An overall effect size of 0.177 (95% CI=0.256-0.094) indicated that patients receiving psychosocial interventions reported significantly lower pain than patients in control conditions (combined p=.01). Meta-analyses also supported the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for the secondary outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that psychosocial interventions may have significant effects on pain and other outcomes in arthritis patients. Ample evidence for the additional benefit of such interventions over and above that of standard medical care was found.
Dixon
Kim E
KE
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pain Prevention and Treatment Research Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Keefe
Francis J
FJ
Scipio
Cindy D
CD
Perri
LisaCaitlin M
LM
Abernethy
Amy P
AP
D001168:Arthritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States