Online Pain Programs Reduce Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms in People With Chronic Pain

An online pain management program reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with chronic pain, according to study results published online ahead of print in Pain Medicine.

“These findings suggest that emerging internet-delivered pain management programs can lead to reductions in psychological distress even when pain intensity and disability are severe or do not improve with treatment,” wrote corresponding author Madelyne A. Bisby, PhD, and coauthors from the Macquarie University School of Psychological Sciences in Sydney, Australia.

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The study was a secondary analysis of data from 4 randomized controlled trials that included 1333 participants. Among them, 912 were assigned to participate in an 8-week, virtual program called the Pain Course, which uses principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and disability, according to Psychiatry Advisor coverage. The remaining 421 patients were first assigned to a waitlist control, and then after an 8-week waiting period, also took the Pain Course.

At baseline, participants with more pain intensity and disability had higher odds of elevated anxiety or depression symptoms, researchers reported.

Compared with a waitlist control, participation in the online pain management program led to greater improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms regardless of baseline pain intensity or disability severity, according to the study.

Participants with clinically meaningful (30% or more) improvements in pain intensity or disability were more likely to report meaningful improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, the study showed. However, most participants who achieved clinically meaningful improvement in psychological symptoms did so without a similar level of improvement in pain or disability.

“This indicates the value of such treatments in treating distress and improving mental health in people with chronic pain,” researchers concluded.

References

Bisby MA, Chandra SS, Dudeney J, Scott AJ, Titov N, Dear BF. Can internet-delivered pain management programs reduce psychological distress in chronic pain? Exploring relationships between anxiety and depression, pain intensity, and disability. Pain Med. Published online October 31, 2022. doi:10.1093/pm/pnac158

Nye J. Depression, anxiety improved with virtual pain management program. Psychiatry Advisor. December 2, 2022. Accessed December 20, 2022.