Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether pain physiology education was capable of changing
pain cognitions and pain thresholds in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS) and chronic widespread pain. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled
trial. SETTING: Specialized chronic fatigue clinic in university hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of patients (N=48) with CFS patients (8 men, 40
women) experiencing chronic pain, randomly allocated to the control group (n=24)
or experimental group (n=24). Two women in the experimental group did not
complete the study because of practical issues (lack of time and restricted
mobility). INTERVENTIONS: One individual pain physiology education session
(experimental) or 1 pacing and self-management education session (control).
Algometry, the Neurophysiology of Pain Test, and questionnaires
evaluating pain cognitions-the Pain Coping Inventory, the Pain Catastrophizing
Scale, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-version CFS-were completed
immediately before and immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: After the
intervention, the experimental group demonstrated a significantly better
understanding of the neurophysiology of pain (P<.001) and a reduction of the Pain
Catastrophizing Scale subscale "ruminating" (P=.009) compared with controls. For
these variables, moderate to large Cohen d effect sizes were revealed (.79-2.53).
CONCLUSIONS: A 30-minute educational session on pain physiology imparts a better
understanding of pain and brings about less rumination in the short term. Pain
physiology education can be an important therapeutic modality in the approach of
patients with CFS and chronic pain, given the clinical relevance of inappropriate
pain cognitions.

Langue : ANGLAIS