Sense of self, social functioning and response to multidisciplinary treatment for chronic pain
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Health Sciences
Abstract
As an acute response to noxious stimuli, pain prompts vital behaviour aimed at avoiding or limiting further damage. In many cases, however, pain endures beyond the healing process, or occurs in the absence of tissue damage and other pathophysiological causes. Pain lasting longer than 12 weeks is defined as chronic pain (CP). Every year, over five million people in the UK develop CP but only two-thirds recover.
Despite the personal and societal impact of CP, surprisingly few studies have considered why so many patients do not respond to conventional psychological treatments. High initial pain intensity, depression, fear-avoidance beliefs and pain acceptance are all factors that have been associated with differential response to PMPs but the evidence is mixed and further research is urgently needed to improve treatment options.
The aim of the proposed research is to test a novel model of treatment response in CP. The model is derived from psychodynamic-interpersonal therapy, which has an evidence based for treating other pain conditions but has not been studied in relation to CP. According to this model, people will be less likely to respond to treatment if they have a poor sense of themselves and problems forming supportive relationships with others, which together undermine their ability to access social support and use self-management strategies.
Despite the personal and societal impact of CP, surprisingly few studies have considered why so many patients do not respond to conventional psychological treatments. High initial pain intensity, depression, fear-avoidance beliefs and pain acceptance are all factors that have been associated with differential response to PMPs but the evidence is mixed and further research is urgently needed to improve treatment options.
The aim of the proposed research is to test a novel model of treatment response in CP. The model is derived from psychodynamic-interpersonal therapy, which has an evidence based for treating other pain conditions but has not been studied in relation to CP. According to this model, people will be less likely to respond to treatment if they have a poor sense of themselves and problems forming supportive relationships with others, which together undermine their ability to access social support and use self-management strategies.
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Brown (Primary Supervisor) | |
Rachel Crone (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ES/P000665/1 | 30/09/2017 | 29/09/2027 | |||
1912048 | Studentship | ES/P000665/1 | 30/09/2017 | 29/09/2020 | Rachel Crone |
Description | Data collection has recently ceased for this project and we are currently analysing and preparing to write up the results for publication. Information will be added here in due course. |
Exploitation Route | Data collection has recently ceased for this project and we are currently analysing and preparing to write up the results for publication. Information will be added here in due course. |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | Data collection has recently ceased for this project and we are currently analysing and preparing to write up the results for publication. The answer to the above question is not clear at this stage and information will be added here in due course. |
Description | ESRC Case Award |
Organisation | The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | This research is supported by the University of Manchester and the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust (WCFT). The award holder works as an honorary Assistant Psychologist at in the pain management programme department as part of the PhD studentship. This role has enabled efficient data collection and provided valuable insight for the researcher. |
Collaborator Contribution | The expertise and intellectual input of all members of the pain management department at the WCFT has been invaluable to the development of this research. The WCFT has also provided access to data and facilitated data collection for all research in this project. |
Impact | Publications are all in the process of being written up. |
Start Year | 2017 |