A home-based pain management and rehabilitation programme: an evaluation

Abstract

We report on a comprehensive and intensive cognitive-behavioural treatment programme which is conducted by behavioural therapists working primarily in patients' homes. All 72 patients reported chronic pain, several previous attempts at traditional treatment and all patients had been vocationally disabled for over 2 years because of pain at the time of assessment. After an average of 5.2 months in treatment, 70.9% were able to make a significant lifestyle change (e.g., return to full or part-time work, etc.) and reported significant reductions in pain levels and increased coping abilities. These results were maintained at follow-up, which was carried out an average of 18.6 months after treatment, with 69.4% of the patients remaining in the successful categories. Results are promising and suggest the need for controlled studies.