Pain center follow-up study of treated and untreated patients

To investigate the outcome of patients treated in a multidisciplinary pain clinic, patients previously treated in the center and patients who had been eligible for, but did not desire such treatment, were contacted by phone. Their current life and pain status were assessed using a structured interview format. Fourteen individuals in each group agreed to participate in the study. The groups did not differ significantly on variables of sex, age, time since referral, marital status, premorbid income, and type of pain. Analysis of differences in discomfort level for the treated group revealed a 47% decrease from a mean of 7.02 to 3.67 (10-point scale). The telephone contact occurred approximately 2 1/2 years following initial referral. There were no statistical differences in current pain levels, number of pain-related visits to health professionals, pain-related expenses, employment status, disability status, history of pain-related litigation, use of medications, or frequency of pain-related surgeries since referral. Patients treated in the pain clinic were significantly more likely to use active, self-control strategies to manage pain than were individuals in the control group. Use of such strategies, however, was limited. The data suggest that outcome studies of pain patients should include control groups treated by other modalities or who receive no treatment; that maintenance of treatment goals is compromised by compliance problems; and that more comprehensive cost effectiveness studies of chronic pain treatment are needed.