Outcome of an interdisciplinary pain management program in a rehabilitation clinic

The Chronic Pain Section at Reykjalundur has 33 beds for patients with various chronic pain problems. About 200 patients are treated annually. For 3 years, 158 patients were enrolled in a random study focusing on increasing the patients' functioning and eliminating analgesic drugs through an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program. Patients answered a questionnaire at admission, before discharge from the clinic and about one year after discharge. The follow-up was done with a mailed questionnaire. The focus was on the patients' functioning rather than absence of pain. The program's duration was 7 weeks. The first 2 weeks were utilized for evaluation, information and education (pain school). Pain relieving drugs were gradually withdrawn but anti-inflammatory drugs were used when indicated. Cognitive behavioral therapy was applied in an increasing number of cases over the 3 year period by specially trained nurses and a psychiatrist. Pain, anxiety and depression were self-evaluated on a numeric rating scale (NRS). About 50% of the patients had a history of pain for more than 5 years. Low back pain was the most common diagnosis (48.1%) and 28.5% had post-traumatic pain. A significant reduction in pain, anxiety and depression was found both at discharge (p < 0.0001) and at follow-up (p < 0.001). Before entering the program, only 18.4% of the patients were able to work whereas 48.1% returned to work after discharge and 59.2% were working at follow-up.