Psychological Approaches for the Integrative Care of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis

Giorgia Petrucci, Giuseppe Francesco Papalia, Fabrizio Russo, Gianluca Vadalà, Michela Piredda, Maria Grazia De Marinis, Rocco Papalia and Vincenzo Denaro
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Giorgia Petrucci: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Francesco Papalia: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Russo: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Gianluca Vadalà: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Michela Piredda: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Maria Grazia De Marinis: Research Unit Nursing Science, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Rocco Papalia: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
Vincenzo Denaro: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most common cause of disability worldwide, affecting about 12% to 30% of the adult population. Psychological factors play an important role in the experience of pain, and may be predictive of pain persistence, disability, and long-term sick leave. The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify and to describe the most common psychological approaches used to treat patients who suffer from CLBP. A systematic search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Central. Overall, 16 studies with a total of 1058 patients were included in the analysis. Our results suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) interventions are both associated with an improvement in terms of pain intensity and quality of life when singularly compared to usual care. Disability also improved in both groups when compared to usual care. Significant differences in fear-avoidance beliefs were noted in the CBT group compared to usual care. Therefore, psychological factors are related to and influence CLBP. It is crucial to develop curative approaches that take these variables into account. Our findings suggest that CBT and MBSR modify pain-related outcomes and that they could be implemented in clinical practice.

Keywords: low back pain; cognitive behavioral therapy; mindfulness-based stress reduction; depression; disability; fear-avoidance beliefs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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