Testing the credibility, feasibility and acceptability of an optimised behavioural intervention (OBI) for avoidant chronic low back pain patients: protocol for a randomised feasibility study

Feasibility, safety and acceptability of select outcome measures in a physiotherapy study protocol for boys with haemophilia

Background

There is a lack of functional performance measures for children and young people with haemophilia (CYPwH) with associated control data from typically developing boys (TDB). The literature advocates development of a core set of outcome measures for different chronic conditions. As medical treatment improves, CYPwH are experiencing better outcomes; therefore, more challenging measures are required to monitor physical performance. Such testing is not performed routinely, due to practical and safety concerns.

Aim

Evaluate the feasibility, safety and acceptability of select outcome measures as part of a study protocol testing CYPwH; including myometry, 10 metre incremental shuttle walk test (10-m ISWT), iSTEP (an incremental step test, with data from TDB), and 1 week of accelerometry-wear at home.

Methods

Sixty-six boys aged 6–15 years with mild, moderate or severe haemophilia A or B (including inhibitors) attending routine clinics at Great Ormond Street Hospital were approached to participate. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to assess outcomes of feasibility, safety and acceptability, which included recruitment/retention rates, protocol completion within routine appointment timeframes, performance testing without serious adverse events/reactions (SAE/SARs), and acceptability to CYPwH of high-level performance measures.

Results

Outcomes were met: 43 boys completed testing at clinic review (Jan–Nov 2018) within a 10-month timeframe, retention was 95% at completion of protocol and no SAE/SARs were reported throughout testing.

Conclusion

Feasibility, safety and acceptability of the study protocol have been established in this population. Both high-level performance tests, iSTEP and 10-m ISWT, were an acceptable addition to boys’ routine clinic appointments and could be safe, acceptable choices of outcome measure as part of a core set of tests for CYPwH. Further investigation of the psychometric properties for the iSTEP is now justified, in order for it to be used as a standardised, validated, reliable outcome measure in clinical or research settings.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered on September 3, 2019, on ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04076306).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-021-00831-1.

Community-based self-management of chronic low back pain in a rural African primary care setting: a feasibility study

A small pragmatic non-randomised controlled study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a novel theory-informed community-based self-management programme targeting the biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain disability in a rural Nigerian primary care centre. Participants either received the programme, once weekly for 6 weeks, or usual care. The programme combined group exercise sessions with group/individual discussion sessions, informed by cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. Recruitment rate, intervention delivery, proportion of planned treatment attended, retention/dropout rate, adherence to recommended self-management strategies and biopsychosocial outcomes were used to determine feasibility. Structured qualitative exit feedback interviews ascertained acceptability. Recruitment rate was 100%, treatment uptake was 83% and loss to follow-up was 8%. Greater benefits for the self-management group compared with control were observed for primary and secondary biopsychosocial outcomes. Although the programme appears promising, the exploratory design of this study warrants more rigorous intervention testing following suggested programme improvement.

An evaluation of osteopathic treatment on psychological outcomes with patients suffering from chronic pain: A prospective observational cohort study collected through a health and well-being academy

Co-morbid mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and fear avoidance are often associated with chronic pain. This novel study aimed to explore the impact of osteopathic treatment on several psychological outcome measures relating to anxiety, depression, mental health and fear avoidance for a chronic pain population receiving osteopathic treatment over a 2-week period. The findings show that there were significant reductions in anxiety, pain, mental health dysfunction and improvements in self-care. These results are promising, and it is suggested that now a full-scale randomised controlled trial should be conducted.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

OBJECTIVES

Chronic pain places a burden on individuals and the economy. Although there is evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy, it is recognized that the effects are limited. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which aims to increase valued action in the presence of pain, has been suggested as an alternative approach. The objective of this review was to determine the clinical effectiveness of ACT for chronic pain in adults when compared with control conditions and other active treatments.

METHODS

The searches of this systematic review were conducted in the Cochrane library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus (EBSCO), and PsycINFO. Grey literature, reference list, and reverse citation searches were also completed.

RESULTS

Eleven trials were included. ACT was favored over controls (no alternative intervention or treatment as usual). Significant, medium to large effect sizes were found for measures of pain acceptance and psychological flexibility, which are typically considered processes of ACT. Significant small to medium effect sizes were found for measures of functioning, anxiety, and depression. Measures of pain intensity and quality of life were not significantly different than zero. Generally effect sizes were smaller at follow-up.

DISCUSSION

ACT was more clinically effective than controls on a number of outcomes. It is possible that methodological limitations, some of which are common to psychological trials, may have led to overestimated effects. Only a few studies compared ACT to active treatments and while the evidence is promising for ACT in the treatment of chronic pain, further methodologically robust trials are required.

Using mixed methods case-series evaluation in the development of a guided self-management hybrid CBT and ACT intervention for multiple sclerosis pain

PURPOSE

Two-thirds of the people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) experience pain. Medications provide minimal relief, and current non-pharmacological interventions lack a clear conceptualization of MS pain. This study explored the potential efficacy of a telephone-supported hybrid cognitive behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy self-management intervention for pwMS based on an empirically supported model of MS pain using a replicated single-case series design.

METHODS

Seven pwMS with varied demographic and disease characteristics completed the 8-week home-based program alongside 3 hours of telephone support. Online questionnaires were completed every four days for 16 weeks (4-weeks baseline, 8-weeks treatment, 4-weeks follow-up). The primary outcomes were pain severity and pain interference. Psychological process variables drawn from the MS pain model were also completed, and post-treatment qualitative interviews conducted.

RESULTS

Simulation modeling analysis (SMA) showed three patients had large improvements in pain outcomes, two showed no change and two worsened. Five participants showed significant change on various psychological process variables. Change in pain catastrophizing was the most consistent finding.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest a self-management program for MS pain with minimal therapy support may be effective for some pwMS, but not those with more complex comorbidities. The participants suggested web-based delivery may simplify the approach, and therapist telephone contact was highly valued. Implications for Rehabilitation This case series suggests a hybrid CBT/ACT self-management workbook program for MS pain improves severity and impact of pain in some pwMS. Pain-related catastrophizing reduced in most pwMS, whilst change in other ACT and CBT process variables varied across the individuals. PwMS feedback suggests a tailored web-based delivery of the program with therapist telephone support may be optimal. PwMS with serious co-morbid depression and very advanced disease may not respond well to this self-management approach.

Psychological Distress in Healthy Low-Risk First-Time Mothers during the Postpartum Period: An Exploratory Study

Psychological distress, defined as depression, anxiety, and insomnia in this study, can occur following the birth of a baby as new mothers, in addition to marked physiological changes, are faced with adapting to new roles and responsibilities. We investigated the cooccurrence of stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia in mothers during the postpartum period; tested the feasibility of study methods and procedures for use in this population; and identified new mothers interest in using cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) as an intervention for reducing psychological distress. We recruited healthy, low-risk, English speaking first-time mothers, ages 18-32 years, with healthy babies (N = 33), within 12 months of an uncomplicated birth. Participants completed the PSS, HAM-D₁₄, HAM-A₁₇, and PSQI₁₉. No problems were encountered with study procedures. Mothers reported a high interest (4.9) in the potential use of CES to treat or prevent the occurrence of psychological distress. All participants (N = 33) reported moderate levels of depression and anxiety, while 75.8% (n = 25) reported insomnia. PSS scores were within the norms for healthy women. Further research is recommended to investigate if our findings can be replicated or if different patterns of associations emerge. Implications for clinical practice are addressed.

Delivering an Optimised Behavioural Intervention (OBI) to people with low back pain with high psychological risk; results and lessons learnt from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of Contextual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT) vs. Physiotherapy

Background

Low Back Pain (LBP) remains a common and costly problem. Psychological obstacles to recovery have been identified, but psychological and behavioural interventions have produced only moderate improvements. Reviews of trials have suggested that the interventions lack clear theoretical basis, are often compromised by low dose, lack of fidelity, and delivery by non-experts. In addition, interventions do not directly target known risk mechanisms. We identified a theory driven intervention (Contexual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CCBT) that directly targets an evidence-based risk mechanism (avoidance and ensured dose and delivery were optimised. This feasibility study was designed to test the credibility and acceptability of optimised CCBT against physiotherapy for avoidant LBP patients, and to test recruitment, delivery of the intervention and response rates prior to moving to a full definitive trial.

Methods

A randomised controlled feasibility trial with patients randomised to receive CCBT or physiotherapy. CCBT was delivered by trained supervised psychologists on a one to one basis and comprised up to 8 one-hour sessions. Physiotherapy comprised back to fitness group exercises with at least 60 % of content exercise-based. Patients were eligible to take part if they had back pain for more than 3 months, and scored above a threshold indicating fear avoidance, catastrophic beliefs and distress.

Results

89 patients were recruited. Uptake rates were above those predicted. Scores for credibility and acceptability of the interventions met the set criteria. Response rates at three and six months fell short of the 75 % target. Problems associated with poor response rates were identified and successfully resolved, rates increased to 77 % at 3 months, and 68 % at 6 months. Independent ratings of treatment sessions indicated that CCBT was delivered to fidelity. Numbers were too small for formal analysis. Although average scores for acceptance were higher in the CCBT group than in the group attending physiotherapy (increase of 7.9 versus 5.1) and change in disability and pain from baseline to 6 months were greater in the CCBT group than in the physiotherapy group, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions

CCBT is a credible and acceptable intervention for LBP patients who exhibit psychological obstacles to recovery.

Trial registration

ISRCTN43733490, registered 15/12/2010.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0594-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Decentering, rumination, cognitive defusion, and psychological flexibility in people with chronic pain

The psychological flexibility model appears to be useful for organizing research into chronic pain. One component of the model is called "cognitive defusion." A process referred to as decentering, measured by the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), appears similar to cognitive defusion. The purpose of this study is to extend previous investigations of the EQ, to evaluate its factor structure, and examine both indirect and direct roles for decentering in relation to key clinical outcomes. 352 people seeking pain treatment participated in this study. All completed the EQ and standard measures of daily functioning, including emotional functioning. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation models (SEMs) were utilized to examine the factor structure of the EQ and evaluate the role of decentering in relation to outcomes. In CFA the overall fit of the EQ items to a two-factor model, specifying decentering and rumination factors, was poor. Separate models of decentering (a higher order model consisting of two sub-factors; cognitive defusion and self-a-context) and rumination, including reduced item sets, yielded good statistical fits. Analyses of these factors showed expected relations with emotional and social functioning but not with physical functioning. SEM revealed that both decentering and rumination have direct effects on functioning and indirect effects through measures of acceptance. A shortened 12-item measure of decentering warrants further study. Combined models of acceptance and the type of cognitive-defusion-related process reflected in decentering may improve our understanding social and emotional functioning in relation to chronic pain.

Protective effect of ligustrazine on lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of rats induced by prolonged upright posture

Most chronic low back pain is the result of degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral disc. Ligustrazine, an alkaloid from Chuanxiong, reportedly is able to relieve pain, suppress inflammation, and treat osteoarthritis and it has the protective effect on cartilage and chondrocytes. Therefore, we asked whether ligustrazine could reduce intervertebral disc degeneration. To determine the effect of ligustrazine on disc degeneration, we applied a rat model. The intervertebral disc degeneration of the rats was induced by prolonged upright posture. We found that pretreatment with ligustrazine for 1 month recovered the structural distortion of the degenerative disc; inhibited the expression of type X collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, and MMP3; upregulated type II collagen; and decreased IL-1β, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. In conclusion, ligustrazine is a promising agent for treating lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration disease.

WHOQOL Pain and Discomfort Module: development and validity testing of the Italian version

Background:

The World Health Organization Quality of Life scale Pain and Discomfort Module (WHOQOL PDM) was designed to assess quality of life (QoL) in adults with chronic pain. It comprises 16 items covering four facets of pain: relief, anger/frustration, vulnerability/fear/worry, and uncertainty.

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to validate the Italian version of the WHOQOL PDM.

Methods:

Chronic pain was assessed in 400 patients using the WHOQOL PDM and other pain scales, together with scales measuring associated symptoms, depression, anxiety, and QoL.

Results:

The WHOQOL PDM shows good internal consistency, concurrent validity (it was significantly associated with all the WHOQOL BREF domains), construct validity (it was significantly associated with other pain scales), and discriminant validity (there were significant differences among different groups of patients).

Conclusions:

The Italian version of the WHOQOL PDM is a brief, useful, and valid tool for assessing chronic pain and its impact on patients’ QoL.