Effects of stress management on pain behavior in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Arthritis and rheumatism Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 122 - 128
• Main Authors: Multon, Karen D., Parker, Jerry C., Smarr, Karen L., Stucky, Renee C., Petroski, Gregory, Hewett, John E., Wright, Gail E., Rhee, Soo Hyun, Walker, Sara E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2001
• Subjects: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - psychology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain - physiopathology; Pain - psychology; Pain behaviors; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Rheumatoid arthritis; Severity of Illness Index; Stress management; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0004-3591; 1529-0131
• DOI: 10.1002/1529-0131(200104)45:2<122::AID-ANR163>3.0.CO;2-7

Objective To examine the effects of stress management training on pain behavior exhibited by persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the relationship of change in pain behavior with certain patient characteristics as well as change in self‐reported levels of pain. Methods Patients with RA (n = 131) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a stress management group, an attention control group, or a standard care control group. The stress management and attention control groups received a 10‐week intervention followed by a 15‐month maintenance phase. Results The 3 groups did not differ significantly in the change in pain behavior at any of the assessment periods. However, persons with RA who had less disease activity tended to exhibit positive changes in pain behavior over time. Changes in self‐reported pain were not significantly related to changes in pain behavior. Conclusion The results indicate that stress management interventions do not reduce total pain behaviors exhibited by persons with RA. Changes in pain behaviors appear to be related to disease activity, age, and disease duration, but not to changes in self‐reported measures of pain.