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. 2011 Oct;5(5):328-32.
doi: 10.5489/cuaj.10201.

A feasibility trial of a cognitive-behavioural symptom management program for chronic pelvic pain for men with refractory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Dean A Tripp  1 , J Curtis Nickel, Laura Katz
Affiliations

A feasibility trial of a cognitive-behavioural symptom management program for chronic pelvic pain for men with refractory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Dean A Tripp et al. Can Urol Assoc J. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Our objective was to determine the feasibility of a cognitive behavioural symptom management program for the acute improvement of psychosocial risk factors of diminished quality of life (QoL) in men suffering from chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Materials and methods: We assessed CP/CPPS symptoms and impact (i.e., chronic prostatitis symptom index [CPSI] pain, urinary, QoL domains), psychosocial risk factors were assessed at baseline and weekly for 8 weeks. We included the following psychosocial risk factors: catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS), mood (Center for Epidemiological Studies in Depression Scale, CES-D), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, MSPSS) and general pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire). Patient sessions dispute and replace pessimistic thinking with health-focused thinking and behaviour.

Results: Eleven men completed the psychosocial management program (mean age = 51.3, standard deviaton [SD] = 12.49). Mean CPSI baseline total score was 25.2 (SD = 10.21). Repeated measures ANOVAs showed the program was associated with significant linear reductions for pain (p = 0.051), disability (p= 0.020) and catastrophizing (p = 0.005), but no changes in depressive symptoms or social support. The CPSI baseline scores compared to follow-up scores (n = 8) were significantly reduced (p = 0.007), with CPSI pain (p = 0.015) and QoL impact (p = 0.013) reduced, but not for urinary scores. Correlations between change scores at the baseline and at 8 weeks for CPSI and psychosocial risk factors indicated that reductions in catastrophizing were most strongly associated with score reductions for the CPSI; these reductions, however, were not significant.

Conclusions: The psychosocial management program targets and significantly reduces several empirically supported psychosocial risk factors associated with poorer CP/CPPS outcomes. Psychosocial management for CP/CPPS is feasible, but requires a randomized controlled trial with longitudinal follow-up.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Mean score changes in significant psychosocial risk factors from baseline to treatment termination (N=11).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Can Urol Assoc J. 5(5):333.

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