Related Experiment Videos
Efficacy of multidisciplinary pain treatment centers: a meta-analytic review
Herta Flor1, Thomas Fydrich, Dennis C Turk
1Department of Clinical and Physiological Psychology, University of Tübingen, TübingenGermany Fachbereich Psychologie, University of Marburg, MarburgGermany Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, HeidelbergGermany Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute, Departments of Psychiatry and Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Sixty-five studies that evaluated the efficacy of multidisciplinary treatments for chronic back pain were included in a meta-analysis. Within- and between-group effect sizes revealed that multidisciplinary treatments for chronic pain are superior to no treatment, waiting list, as well as single-discipline treatments such as medical treatment or physical therapy. Moreover, the effects appeared to be stable over time. The beneficial effects of multidisciplinary treatment were not limited to improvements in pain, mood and interference but also extended to behavioral variables such as return to work or use of the health care system. These results tend to support the efficacy of multidisciplinary pain treatment; however, these results must be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the study designs and study descriptions is marginal. Suggestions for improvement in research designs as well as appropriate reports of research completed are provided.