Integrating Psychological and Physical Therapies With Pharmacological Treatment for Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A...

To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrative intervention combining psychological and physical therapies with pharmacologic treatment for postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), and to assess its impact on pain, anxiety, and quality of life in breast cancer patients.

In this prospective randomized controlled study, 302 breast cancer patients with chronic postoperative pain were assigned to a control group (standard pharmacologic treatment) or an experimental group (combined drug, psychological, and physical therapies). Key outcomes included NRS scores during movement and rest, pain interference, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Breast-Q scores, assessed at T0 (baseline), T1 (end of intervention), and T2 (3 months after intervention).

At T2, the experimental group showed significantly lower movement NRS scores (p = 0.0143), pain interference scores (p = 0.0488), and anxiety scores (p = 0.0001) compared to the control group. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant time × group interactions for multiple pain-related outcomes (p < 0.05). Quality of life improved over time (p = 0.0026), but no significant between-group difference was found.

A multimodal integrative intervention combining psychological and physical therapies can enhance pain relief and emotional well-being in patients with PMPS. This approach supports the application of integrative medicine in oncology rehabilitation.