Preliminary findings of a randomized controlled trial of an interdisciplinary military pain program.
Chronic pain related to musculoskeletal conditions is the leading cause of medical discharge from active duty military service. The present study is the first randomized controlled trial of an interdisciplinary pain treatment program (functional restoration, FR) to decrease chronic musculoskeletal pain and increase functioning in an active duty military population. Sixty-six military participants were randomly assigned to either an FR treatment group or a standard anesthesia pain clinic treatment comparison group. A repeated measures design was employed and data were analyzed for pre- to post-treatment differences, as well as for 6-months and 1-year post-treatment outcomes. Findings revealed significantly greater improvements for the FR group on self-reported pain, disability, functional status, and fitness for military duty at the post-treatment and follow-up points, relative to the comparison group. These results clearly demonstrate the efficacy and military relevance of a FR program for active duty military personnel who have chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders.
The University of Texas at Arlington, 501 S. Nedderman Drive, No. 313, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
Robert J
RJ
Gatchel
Donald D
DD
McGeary
Alan
A
Peterson
Mysti
M
Moore
Karen
K
LeRoy
William C
WC
Isler
Ann S
AS
Hryshko-Mullen
Tom
T
Edell
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult