Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment for chronic pain in patients with comorbidities

Introduction: although it is well-known that cognitive-behavioral therapy is efficacious for the treatment of chronic pain patients, studies that have evaluated its efficacy lose external validity because the scenario used in these investigations are highly different from natural settings. Objective: to determine the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for patients with chronic pain in a natural ambulatory setting. Method: a cuasi experimental design with no control group was implemented, in which a 14-session treatment program was used with 6 patients with chronic pain. Results: after the treatment participants showed statistically significant reductions on the worst pain experienced and on pain average. Moreover, patients exhibited increments on health-related quality of life related to role limitations due to emotional problems, emotional wellbeing, loss of energy and fatigue and social functioning. Effect size measures revealed to be from moderate to big (d between 0,44 and 0,81). Conclusion: these results suggest that the treatment program administered showed to be effective to diminish perceived pain and to improve health quality of life among chronic pain patients.