Treatment for “Helpless” Women Suffering from Chronic Spinal Pain: A Randomized Controlled 18-Month Follow-Up Study

This prospective randomized controlled outcome study was designed to evaluate whether a MultiModal Cognitive—Behavioral Treatment for chronic spinal pain (MMCBT) specifically designed for women has an increased effect on well being and return to work compared to a regular MMCBT regimen. In Sweden, spinal pain is most prevalent among women. A tremendous amount of money is spent on secondary prevention of spinal pain. Yet, little is known about the effect of the interventions. A need for well designed outcome studies exist. Fifty-four subjects from a cohort of all registered sick-listed women in three districts of Stockholm participated in the study. Subjects were allocated by central randomization into two groups. One group was treated with a regular MMCBT program and the other group with a MMCBT program specifically designed for women. Assessments were performed at pretreatment–posttreatment (last treatment day) and at 6 and 18 months posttreatment. Questionnaires covering the bio-psycho-social spectra of the chronic pain syndrome, and sick leave were used to measure outcome. Intention to treat and true to protocol analyses were performed. The only significant differences found between groups were improvements in self-reported disability and in coping with pain, favoring the experimental treatment. About one-third of the variance in disability was explained by the set of pain-coping strategies assessed in the study. The results do not lend sufficient statistical support to warrant acceptance of the experimental treatment as superior to the regular treatment in improving health and sick leave. Further investigation with larger groups is needed before a solid scientific conclusion can be drawn.