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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Aug 5;10(8):e0134192.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134192. eCollection 2015.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Helen Richmond  1 , Amanda M Hall  2 , Bethan Copsey  1 , Zara Hansen  1 , Esther Williamson  1 , Nicolette Hoxey-Thomas  1 , Zafra Cooper  3 , Sarah E Lamb  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Helen Richmond et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: To assess whether cognitive behavioural (CB) approaches improve disability, pain, quality of life and/or work disability for patients with low back pain (LBP) of any duration and of any age.

Methods: Nine databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to November 2014. Two independent reviewers rated trial quality and extracted trial data. Standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for individual trials. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model for two contrasts: CB versus no treatment (including wait-list and usual care (WL/UC)), and CB versus other guideline-based active treatment (GAT).

Results: The review included 23 studies with a total of 3359 participants. Of these, the majority studied patients with persistent LBP (>6 weeks; n=20). At long term follow-up, the pooled SMD for the WL/UC comparison was -0.19 (-0.38, 0.01) for disability, and -0.23 (-0.43, -0.04) for pain, in favour of CB. For the GAT comparison, at long term the pooled SMD was -0.83 (-1.46, -0.19) for disability and -0.48 (-0.93, -0.04) for pain, in favour of CB. While trials varied considerably in methodological quality, and in intervention factors such as provider, mode of delivery, dose, duration, and pragmatism, there were several examples of lower intensity, low cost interventions that were effective.

Conclusion: CB interventions yield long-term improvements in pain, disability and quality of life in comparison to no treatment and other guideline-based active treatments for patients with LBP of any duration and of any age.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO protocol registration number: CRD42014010536.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal's policy of this manuscript and have the following competing interests: Two review authors have published in this field (SL, ZH) One author trains therapists in the use of a CB approach (ZH).

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Summary of conservative treatment recommendations in the European LBP guidelines.
Fig 2
Fig 2. PRISMA Flow diagram.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Risk of bias of included studies.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Summary of risk of bias for all studies.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Forest plot of effect of CB on pain at long-term.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Forest plot of effect of CB on disability at long-term.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Forest plot of effect of CB on quality of life at long-term.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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