Report: Phone may help cure chronic pain

Researchers may have found another use for the telephone – as an aid to address chronic widespread pain or fibromyalgia (muscle and connective tissue pain). But no, it's not an app. It's just good, old-fashioned talk-on-the-phone therapy, researchers at UK's University of Aberdeen and the University of Manchester said. "TCBT (telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy) was associated with substantial, statistically significant, and sustained improvements in patient global assessment," the researchers said in their conclusion. In their study, the researchers picked at random 442 patients with chronic widespread pain and had them receive six months of TCBT, graded exercise, combined intervention, or treatment as usual (TAU). With a seven-point patient global assessment scale of change in health since trial enrollment (range: very much worse to very much better), was assessed at baseline and six months (intervention end) and nine months after randomization. The results of the treatments showed a positive outcome at six and nine months, respectively:

- TAU group, 8 percent after six months, 8 percent after nine months - TCBT group, 30 percent after six months and 33 percent after nine months - Exercise group, 35 percent after six months and 24 percent after nine months - Combined intervention group, 37 percent after six months and 37 percent after nine months At six and nine months, combined intervention was associated with improvements in the 36-Item Short Form Health Questionnaire and a reduction in passive coping strategies. The researchers included John McBeth, MA, PhD; Gordon Prescott, BSc, MSc, PhD; Graham Scotland, BSc, MSc; Karina Lovell, PhD, MSc, BA, RN; Philip Keeley, RN, BA, MA, PhD; Phil Hannaford, MD, FRCGP, FFSRH, FFPH, DRCOG, DCH; Paul McNamee, MA, MSc, PhD; Deborah P. M. Symmons, MD, FFPH, FRCP; Steve Woby, PhD; Chrysa Gkazinou, BSc(Hons); Marcus Beasley, BSc(Hons); Gary J. Macfarlane, PhD, MD(Hons). Treatment costs A separate report on tech site CNET noted the first six months following diagnosis may cost a patient an average of $3,481 for medications, consultations, tests, and emergency room visits. This prompted the researchers to investigate two less expensive alternatives: exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy (by phone). "(These results) demonstrate that we can improve symptoms for many people. We have examined two options – a graded exercise program and CBT – and found both to be effective," said MacFarlane. Findings showed that after six months, 8.1 percent of participants in the control group reported positive outcomes, compared with 29.9 percent of the talk therapy group; 34.8 percent of the exercise group; and 37.2 percent of the combined intervention group. Results were similar at a nine-month follow-up. — LBG, GMA News