Multidisciplinary cognitive behavioural pain management programmes for people with a spinal cord injury: design and implementation

Abstract

Purpose. This article seeks to outline the design and implementation of cognitive behavioural pain management programmes (PMPs) for people with spinal cord injury (SCI), illustrated by the experiences in a recently evaluated programme (SpinalADAPT). It is hoped that this will provide an easily accessible account of the relevant design and implementation issues for those who seek to deliver such programmes to persons with a SCI.

Methods. A collaborative team of pain and SCI professionals developed a modified version of a standard cognitive behavioural pain management programme (ADAPT) based upon experiences of those with SCI who had previously attempted ADAPT. A number of structural and content elements of the programme were identified that required modification in order to accommodate the particular needs of those with SCI.

Results. The modified programme was subsequently successfully delivered by a combination of SCI and pain health professionals. Three groups of individuals completed the SpinalADAPT, and an evaluation of outcomes compared to standard care are reported elsewhere (Nicholson Perry et al., Clin J Pain 2010;26:206–216).

Conclusions. It appears feasible to appropriately modify standard PMPs for participants with SCI, and that such programmes may offer benefits in terms of improved quality of life. Further revision and evaluation of such programmes is required.

Keywords:

• Pain management programmes
• spinal cord injury
• cognitive behavioural therapy

Declaration of interest: This work was supported by an Australian Pain Relief Association/Australian Pain Society PhD Scholarship (funded by Mundipharma) to the first author.