.
BOOKS
They Can’t Find Anything Wrong!
Gastroenterologist Dr. David D. Clarke’s book about how stress can cause illness, and steps for treatment.
Think Away Your Pain
Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. David Schechter’s recovery program and book.
The Pain Management Workbook
Pain psychologist Rachel Zoffness's approach to pain management using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.
Overcoming Functional Neurological Symptoms
Cognitive Behavior Therapy workbook to help people experiencing a range of medically unexplained symptoms.
The Way Out
Psychotherapist and the founder of the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles Allan Gordon's mind-body protocol to heal chronic pain, supported by new research.
News
"Chronic Pain is Surprisingly Treatable - When Patients Focus On the Brain", by Nathaniel Frank, Washington Post 10/15/2021.
www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/15/chronic-pain-brain-plasticity
ONLINE RECOVERY PROGRAMS
Unlearn Your Pain
Internist and pediatrician Dr. Howard Schubiner's workbook and 4-week class addressing mind body symptoms.
Curable: A Different Approach to Chronic Pain
"The Curable app provides evidence-based chronic pain lessons in your pocket. It uses a combination of pain science education and research-backed techniques to address pain from every angle."
Dr. Alan Gordon's Pain Recovery Program
Dr. Alan Gordon, Director of the Pain Psychology Center developed this free 21 day pain recovery program integrating audio and video segments combining neuroscience education with cognitive and mindfulness techniques.
PODCASTS
Tell Me About Your Pain - Podcast on Spotify and Google
"Join hosts Alan Gordon, LCSW (Founder of the Pain Psychology Center) and Alon Ziv as they respond to the experiences of real chronic pain sufferers and provide techniques based on the latest neuroscience to help listeners overcome chronic pain. "
Like Mind Like Body - Podcast on Apple and Spotify
"Produced by Curable Health, each episode features an interview with physicians, researchers, and ordinary people who have incredible stories to tell about the power of the mind-body connection."
RESEARCH STUDIES SUPPORTING A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO PAIN AND OTHER PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
(For a more complete bibliography of all research conducted on this subject please visit the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association website)
Abbass, A., et al. (2009) Short-Term psychodynamic psychotherapy for somatic disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78, 265–274.
“Reviewed 23 studies (13 RCTs and 10 case series with pre/post assessments) of ISTDP. Of these, 21/23 (91.3%), 11/12 (91.6%), 16/19 (76.2%) and 7/9 (77.8%) reported significant or possible effects on physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, social-occupational function and healthcare utilization respectively. Meta-analysis was possible for 14 studies and revealed significant effects on physical symptoms, psychiatric symptoms and social adjustment which were maintained in long-term follow-up."Baldoni F, Baldaro B & Trombini G. (1995). Psychotherapeutic Perspectives in Urethral Syndrome. Stress Medicine 11: 79-84.
RCT of 36 patients with urinary symptoms without organic lesions with follow-up of 4 years. Of the 13 who received intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (14 weekly sessions), 10 had complete relief and 3 had significant improvement. Depression, anxiety and hostility also improved. The 23 controls had traditional urologic care and no significant improvement was found.
Ashar YK, Gordon A, Schubiner H, et al. (2021) Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online September 29, 2021. https://doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.2669
In the study, 151 subjects with persistent back pain were randomly assigned to one of three groups. A third of them were assigned to usual care (the control group), a third were given a placebo, and a third were given eight one-hour sessions of a psychological treatment called “pain reprocessing therapy” (PRT). 66 percent of the subjects receiving PRT were nearly or fully pain-free after this purely psychological intervention, compared with just 10 percent of the control group. These benefits were generally maintained at one year follow-up.
Donnino, M. W. et al. (2021) Psychophysiologic symptom relief therapy for chronic back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial, PAIN Reports: September/October 2021 - Volume 6 - Issue 3 - p e959 http://links.lww.com/PR9/A129
A team of Harvard affiliated researchers found that a mind-body therapy course was significantly more effective in easing persistent back pain than either a more general stress-reduction program or usual care. At 26 weeks, 63.6% of the patients completing a mind-body therapy course reported being pain free (0/10 pain) compared with 25.0% and 16.7% in general stress reduction program and usual care arms, respectively
Guthrie, E., Creed, F., Dawson, D., & Tomenson, B. (1993). A randomised controlled trial of psychotherapy in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 315–321. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.163.3.315
For women psychotherapy was found to be superior to supportive listening. There was a similar trend for men, but this did not reach significance control group were offered psychotherapy; 33 accepted and following treatment experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms. At follow-up 1 yr later, those patients who had received. Following completion of the trial, patients in the control group were offered psychotherapy; 33 accepted and following treatment experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms. At follow-up 1 yr later, those patients who had received . Following completion of the trial, patients in the psychotherapy remained well, patients who had dropped out of the trial were unwell with severe symptoms.
Hsu MC et al. (2010) Sustained pain reduction through affective self-awareness in fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of general internal medicine. Oct;25(10):1064-70.
"This RCT studied 45 women with fibromyalgia and randomly assigned them to a manualized therapy called Affective Self-Awareness or a waitlist control group. The intervention group had significantly lower pain severity (p<0.001), higher self-reported physical function (p<0.001), and higher tender-point threshold (p=0.02) at 6 months compared to the control group.”
Laird KT, Tanner-Smith EE, Russell AC, Hollon SD, Walker L. (2016). Short- and Long- Term Efficacy of Psychological Therapies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clin Gastro Hep Vol 14(7), p 937-947.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2015.11.020
Forty-one trials were included in the meta-analysis, comprising data from 2290 individuals. Psychological therapies had a medium effect on GI symptom severity (effect size = 0.69) immediately after treatment. On average, individuals who engaged in psychotherapy had a greater reduction in GI symptoms after treatment than 75% of individuals assigned to a control condition. After short-term follow-up (1–6 months) and long-term follow-up (6–12 months), this effect remained significant and medium in magnitude (0.76 and 0.73, respectively).
Powers SW, Kashikar-Zuck SM, Allen JR, LeCates SL, Slater SK, Zafar M, Kabbouche MA, O'Brien HL, Shenk CE, Rausch JR, Hershey AD. (2013). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Plus Amitriptyline for Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 310, (24), 2622-2630.
At the 20-week end point, days with headache were reduced from the baseline 21 days per month by 11.5 for the CBT plus amitriptyline group vs 6.8 for the headache education plus amitriptyline group (P = .002).
Russell LA, Abbass A A, Allder SJ, Kisely S, Pohlmann-Eden B, Town JM (2016). A pilot study of reduction in healthcare costs following the application of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior :
E&B , 63, 17-19.
28 patients with psychogenic non epileptic seizures who received ISTDP, exhibited improvements which resulted in a total combined healthcare cost reduction of over 80% in each of the three years post treatment compared to the year pre-treatment.
Speckens, A. E. M., van Hemert, A. M., Spinhoven, P., Hawton, K. E., Bolk, J. H., & Rooijmans, H. G. M. (1995). Cognitive behavioural therapy for medically unexplained physical symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 311, 1328– 1332. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.7016.1328
At six months of follow up, the intervention group reported a higher recovery rate, a lower intensity of physical symptoms, less impairment of sleep, lower frequency of symptoms, fewer limitations in social and leisure activities, and reduced illness behavior. At 12 months of follow up, the differences between the groups were largely maintained.
BOOKS
They Can’t Find Anything Wrong!
Gastroenterologist Dr. David D. Clarke’s book about how stress can cause illness, and steps for treatment.
Think Away Your Pain
Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. David Schechter’s recovery program and book.
The Pain Management Workbook
Pain psychologist Rachel Zoffness's approach to pain management using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.
Overcoming Functional Neurological Symptoms
Cognitive Behavior Therapy workbook to help people experiencing a range of medically unexplained symptoms.
The Way Out
Psychotherapist and the founder of the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles Allan Gordon's mind-body protocol to heal chronic pain, supported by new research.
News
"Chronic Pain is Surprisingly Treatable - When Patients Focus On the Brain", by Nathaniel Frank, Washington Post 10/15/2021.
www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/15/chronic-pain-brain-plasticity
ONLINE RECOVERY PROGRAMS
Unlearn Your Pain
Internist and pediatrician Dr. Howard Schubiner's workbook and 4-week class addressing mind body symptoms.
Curable: A Different Approach to Chronic Pain
"The Curable app provides evidence-based chronic pain lessons in your pocket. It uses a combination of pain science education and research-backed techniques to address pain from every angle."
Dr. Alan Gordon's Pain Recovery Program
Dr. Alan Gordon, Director of the Pain Psychology Center developed this free 21 day pain recovery program integrating audio and video segments combining neuroscience education with cognitive and mindfulness techniques.
PODCASTS
Tell Me About Your Pain - Podcast on Spotify and Google
"Join hosts Alan Gordon, LCSW (Founder of the Pain Psychology Center) and Alon Ziv as they respond to the experiences of real chronic pain sufferers and provide techniques based on the latest neuroscience to help listeners overcome chronic pain. "
Like Mind Like Body - Podcast on Apple and Spotify
"Produced by Curable Health, each episode features an interview with physicians, researchers, and ordinary people who have incredible stories to tell about the power of the mind-body connection."
RESEARCH STUDIES SUPPORTING A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO PAIN AND OTHER PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS
(For a more complete bibliography of all research conducted on this subject please visit the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association website)
Abbass, A., et al. (2009) Short-Term psychodynamic psychotherapy for somatic disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78, 265–274.
“Reviewed 23 studies (13 RCTs and 10 case series with pre/post assessments) of ISTDP. Of these, 21/23 (91.3%), 11/12 (91.6%), 16/19 (76.2%) and 7/9 (77.8%) reported significant or possible effects on physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, social-occupational function and healthcare utilization respectively. Meta-analysis was possible for 14 studies and revealed significant effects on physical symptoms, psychiatric symptoms and social adjustment which were maintained in long-term follow-up."Baldoni F, Baldaro B & Trombini G. (1995). Psychotherapeutic Perspectives in Urethral Syndrome. Stress Medicine 11: 79-84.
RCT of 36 patients with urinary symptoms without organic lesions with follow-up of 4 years. Of the 13 who received intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (14 weekly sessions), 10 had complete relief and 3 had significant improvement. Depression, anxiety and hostility also improved. The 23 controls had traditional urologic care and no significant improvement was found.
Ashar YK, Gordon A, Schubiner H, et al. (2021) Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online September 29, 2021. https://doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.2669
In the study, 151 subjects with persistent back pain were randomly assigned to one of three groups. A third of them were assigned to usual care (the control group), a third were given a placebo, and a third were given eight one-hour sessions of a psychological treatment called “pain reprocessing therapy” (PRT). 66 percent of the subjects receiving PRT were nearly or fully pain-free after this purely psychological intervention, compared with just 10 percent of the control group. These benefits were generally maintained at one year follow-up.
Donnino, M. W. et al. (2021) Psychophysiologic symptom relief therapy for chronic back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial, PAIN Reports: September/October 2021 - Volume 6 - Issue 3 - p e959 http://links.lww.com/PR9/A129
A team of Harvard affiliated researchers found that a mind-body therapy course was significantly more effective in easing persistent back pain than either a more general stress-reduction program or usual care. At 26 weeks, 63.6% of the patients completing a mind-body therapy course reported being pain free (0/10 pain) compared with 25.0% and 16.7% in general stress reduction program and usual care arms, respectively
Guthrie, E., Creed, F., Dawson, D., & Tomenson, B. (1993). A randomised controlled trial of psychotherapy in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 315–321. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.163.3.315
For women psychotherapy was found to be superior to supportive listening. There was a similar trend for men, but this did not reach significance control group were offered psychotherapy; 33 accepted and following treatment experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms. At follow-up 1 yr later, those patients who had received. Following completion of the trial, patients in the control group were offered psychotherapy; 33 accepted and following treatment experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms. At follow-up 1 yr later, those patients who had received . Following completion of the trial, patients in the psychotherapy remained well, patients who had dropped out of the trial were unwell with severe symptoms.
Hsu MC et al. (2010) Sustained pain reduction through affective self-awareness in fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of general internal medicine. Oct;25(10):1064-70.
"This RCT studied 45 women with fibromyalgia and randomly assigned them to a manualized therapy called Affective Self-Awareness or a waitlist control group. The intervention group had significantly lower pain severity (p<0.001), higher self-reported physical function (p<0.001), and higher tender-point threshold (p=0.02) at 6 months compared to the control group.”
Laird KT, Tanner-Smith EE, Russell AC, Hollon SD, Walker L. (2016). Short- and Long- Term Efficacy of Psychological Therapies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clin Gastro Hep Vol 14(7), p 937-947.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2015.11.020
Forty-one trials were included in the meta-analysis, comprising data from 2290 individuals. Psychological therapies had a medium effect on GI symptom severity (effect size = 0.69) immediately after treatment. On average, individuals who engaged in psychotherapy had a greater reduction in GI symptoms after treatment than 75% of individuals assigned to a control condition. After short-term follow-up (1–6 months) and long-term follow-up (6–12 months), this effect remained significant and medium in magnitude (0.76 and 0.73, respectively).
Powers SW, Kashikar-Zuck SM, Allen JR, LeCates SL, Slater SK, Zafar M, Kabbouche MA, O'Brien HL, Shenk CE, Rausch JR, Hershey AD. (2013). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Plus Amitriptyline for Chronic Migraine in Children and Adolescents. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 310, (24), 2622-2630.
At the 20-week end point, days with headache were reduced from the baseline 21 days per month by 11.5 for the CBT plus amitriptyline group vs 6.8 for the headache education plus amitriptyline group (P = .002).
Russell LA, Abbass A A, Allder SJ, Kisely S, Pohlmann-Eden B, Town JM (2016). A pilot study of reduction in healthcare costs following the application of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior :
E&B , 63, 17-19.
28 patients with psychogenic non epileptic seizures who received ISTDP, exhibited improvements which resulted in a total combined healthcare cost reduction of over 80% in each of the three years post treatment compared to the year pre-treatment.
Speckens, A. E. M., van Hemert, A. M., Spinhoven, P., Hawton, K. E., Bolk, J. H., & Rooijmans, H. G. M. (1995). Cognitive behavioural therapy for medically unexplained physical symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 311, 1328– 1332. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.311.7016.1328
At six months of follow up, the intervention group reported a higher recovery rate, a lower intensity of physical symptoms, less impairment of sleep, lower frequency of symptoms, fewer limitations in social and leisure activities, and reduced illness behavior. At 12 months of follow up, the differences between the groups were largely maintained.