The Effects of Interdisciplinary Team Assessment and a Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Chronic Pain

Pietila Holmner E, Fahlstrom M, Nordstrom A: The effects of interdisciplinary team assessment and a rehabilitation program for patients with chronic pain. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2013;92:77-83. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of interdisciplinary team assessment and a 4-wk rehabilitation program in chronic pain patients. Design: This was a longitudinal cohort study evaluating interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation measures in a specialist care setting. A total of 93 women (42.2 +/- 9.5 yrs) with chronic musculoskeletal pain (median pain duration, 8 yrs) were evaluated at assessment and at the start and end of the rehabilitation program. Pain intensity measured with a visual analog scale, pain dimensions measured with the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and anxiety and depression measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were registered. Results: The participants exhibited significantly improved results of pain and pain-related measures. The results were seen both after the short-term intervention in the form of the interdisciplinary assessment and after the 4-wk rehabilitation program. The improvements seen after the assessment were not related to specific interventions, such as change of medication, and therefore seem to be a result of the interdisciplinary assessment concept as such. Conclusions: Both interdisciplinary assessment and rehabilitation program seem to be effective in chronic pain rehabilitation, at least for women. Further studies are needed to investigate potential sex differences, as well as content and duration for optimal pain rehabilitation programs.