The behavioral management of chronic pain: Long-term follow-up with comparison groups

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To assess the long-term efficacy of an operant inpatient treatment program for severely disabled chronic pain patients, 26 treated patients were compared with 20 rejected for treatment by a clinic team and 12 who refused treatment. At follow-up ranging from 1-8 yr, 77% of treated participants were leading normal lives without medication for pain compared to 1 patient in the other 2 groups. At time of evaluation, unsuccessfully treated patients used more medications and were higher on MMPI [Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory] measures of paranoia and lower on ego-strength than successfully treated patients. Spouses of unsuccessfully treated patients had higher MMPI scores on hypochondriasis and hysteria than spouses of successfully treated patients.