title: Ethnic Group Differences in the Outcomes of Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective investigation was to evaluate ethnic group differences in pain-related outcomes following multidisciplinary chronic pain treatment. A prospective pre- and post-treatment assessment design was employed to investigate the effects of ethnicity on changes in pain-related variables following completion of a multidisciplinary pain treatment program. METHODS: One hundred fifty five chronic pain patients participating in a multidisciplinary pain treatment program completed measures of pain and mood both prior to and following the four-week treatment. Primary outcome variables included pain severity, pain-related interference, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Baseline differences between African-Americans and Whites were observed for depressive symptoms, but not for pain severity or pain-related interference. Following multidisciplinary pain treatment, both White and African-American patients displayed post-treatment reductions in depressive symptoms and pain-related interference. However, White patients also reported reduced pain severity while African-Americans did not. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment approach used in the present study appeared to be less effective in reducing self-reported pain severity in African-American versus White patients, though both groups benefited in terms of reduced depressive symptoms and pain-related interference. Moreover, the observation that improvements in functioning occurred without reductions in pain severity in African-American patients suggests that differences may exist in treatment processes as a function of ethnic group, and will consequently be an important area for future research.
authors: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Merry
authors: Claudia M
authors: CM
authors: Campbell
authors: Luis F
authors: LF
authors: Buenaver
authors: Lynanne
authors: L
authors: McGuire
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Haythornthwaite
authors: Daniel M
authors: DM
authors: Doleys
authors: Robert R
authors: RR
authors: Edwards