Behaviour therapy for long-term back pain
Does it work?
Yes. If you have long-term back pain there's a good chance that behaviour therapy, which is a type of psychotherapy, can help. Your back pain should ease and you should be able to do more after this treatment.
What is it?
Behaviour therapy is a form of 'talking' treatment that's used for people who have suffered from different kinds of pain over a long period of time. You have regular sessions with a trained therapist by yourself or in a group, and you may meet every week. Behaviour therapy is based on the belief that the way you feel about your pain can make your pain better or worse.
There are lots of different types of behaviour therapy and many different techniques that are used by therapists to help your pain. Some of these techniques include teaching you how to relax and helping you lower your level of stress.
How can it help?
If you have long-term or short-term back pain, behaviour therapy can help to reduce the amount of pain you are in and help you move around more easily.[1] [2] It can also help to reduce anxiety, tension and depression and help you get back to work sooner than other standard treatments, such as painkillers, bed rest or physiotherapy.
All types of behaviour therapy seem to help about the same. However, a type called problem-solving therapy may also reduce the amount of sick leave you need.[1]
Some doctors use behaviour therapy with other treatments (such as back exercises) for people with long-term back pain. Combining treatments this way can help you become more able to get back to your normal daily activities.[2]
Why should it work?
When you have behavioural therapy you learn how the way you think and behave can affect how you feel, including how you feel pain, such as back pain. You can learn how you react to this pain, for example it might make you feel angry, anxious and depressed.
With the help of a therapist you can learn how to respond differently to back pain so that you relax and stay calm when you would usually feel the opposite. This might make you less angry and anxious about your back pain so that it starts to feel less of a burden, and you can manage your life better.
Can it be harmful?
None of the studies we found reported any harm to people from behaviour therapy. That doesn't mean that behaviour therapy is harmless. It's just that researchers didn't look for or report side effects from this treatment.
What is the evidence for behaviour therapy for long-term back pain?
References
- Van den Hout JHC, Vlaeyen JWS, Heuts PHTG, et al. Secondary prevention of work-related disability in non-specific low back pain: does problem-solving therapy help? A randomised clinical trial. Clinical Journal of Pain. 2003; 19: 87-96.
- Van Tulder MW, Ostelo R, Vlaeyen JWS, et al. Behavioural treatment for chronic low back pain (Cochrane review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2004. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Glossary
- physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy is a way of using movements or exercises to help people's bodies heal.
- psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy is a method of treating mental or emotional disorders using interactions between a trained therapist (such as a , or social worker) and a patient or group of patients. Psychotherapy usually consists of regular sessions (often weekly) between the therapist and the patient or patients. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
