title: Preoperative cognitive-behavioural intervention improves in-hospital mobilisation and analgesic use for lumbar spinal fusion patients.
abstract: Catastrophic thinking and fear-avoidance belief are negatively influencing severe acute pain following surgery causing delayed ambulation and discharge. We aimed to examine if a preoperative intervention of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) could influence the early postsurgical outcome following lumbar spinal fusion surgery (LSF).
  
  
  
  Ninety patients undergoing LSF due to degenerative spinal disorders were randomly allocated to either the CBT group or the control group. Both groups received surgery and postoperative rehabilitation. In addition, the CBT group received a preoperative intervention focussed on pain coping using a CBT approach. Primary outcome was back pain during the first week (0-10 scale). Secondary outcomes were mobility, analgesic consumption, and length of hospitalisation. Data were retrieved using self-report questionnaires, assessments made by physical therapists and from medical records.
  
  
  
  No difference between the groups' self-reported back pain (p = 0.76) was detected. Independent mobility was reached by a significantly larger number of patients in the CBT group than the control group during the first three postoperative days. Analgesic consumption tended to be lower in the CBT group, whereas length of hospitalisation was unaffected by the CBT intervention.
  
  
  
  Participation in a preoperative CBT intervention appeared to facilitate mobility in the acute postoperative phase, despite equally high levels of self-reported acute postsurgical pain in the two groups, and a slightly lower intake of rescue analgesics in the CBT group. This may reflect an overall improved ability to cope with pain following participation in the preoperative CBT intervention.
  
  
  
  The study was approved by the Danish Protection Agency (2011-41-5899) and the Ethics Committee of the Central Denmark Region (M-20110047). The trial was registered in Current Controlled Trials ( ISRCTN42281022 ).
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Centre, Regional Hospital Silkeborg, Falkevej 1-3, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark. Nanna.Rolving@midt.rm.dk.|Regional Hospital Silkeborg, Silkeborg, Denmark. Nanna.Rolving@midt.rm.dk.
authors.forename: Nanna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rolving
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.|Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claus Vinther
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Finn Bjarke
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Elective Surgery Centre, Regional Hospital Silkeborg, Silkeborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cody Eric
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bünger
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Centre, Regional Hospital Silkeborg, Falkevej 1-3, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark.|Centre of Research in Rehabilitation, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.|Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lisa Gregersen
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Oestergaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Acute postsurgical pain; Cognitive-behavioural therapy; Low back pain; Lumbar spinal fusion; Mobility; Randomised controlled trial