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Clinical effectiveness of a pain psychology service within an outpatient secondary care setting

Kerry Lynn Sheldon (Older People’s Mental Health Services - Psychology, Rotherham, Doncaster & South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, Scunthorpe, United Kingdom)
Simon P. Clarke (Physical Health Clinical Psychology Services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton in Ashfield, UK and Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom)
Nima Moghaddam (Trent DClinPsy Programme, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom)

Mental Health Review Journal

ISSN: 1361-9322

Publication date: 14 September 2015

Abstract

Purpose

Data gathered from routine clinical settings is complementary to evidence garnered from controlled efficacy trials. The purpose of this paper is to present individual-level analysis of changes in a group of patients discharged from psychological therapy within an outpatient pain service. The service had recently shifted from a traditional cognitive-behavioural approach to one underpinned by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Design/methodology/approach

Reliable and clinically significant change methodology was applied to CORE-10 outcomes for 27 patients discharged during 2013-2014. Outcomes were compared to 2012-2013. A patient satisfaction questionnaire was administered and functional outcomes were collated.

Findings

Outcomes were not adversely affected by the shift in service focus as clients demonstrating reliable improvement increased from 2012-2013; 81 per cent reliably improved, 44 per cent made a clinically significant improvement. Increases in returning to work/unpaid activities at post-treatment were noted. The service met a number of NICE quality standards concerning the “relational” aspects of care.

Research limitations/implications

Clinical effectiveness is evaluated through one outcome measure thereby limiting conclusions. The longer term effectiveness of the service remains unclear. Narrow demographic information limits an assessment of any systematic biases in findings. Little is known about treatment drop-outs.

Practical implications

A number of recommendations concerning data collection and future service evaluations are made.

Social implications

Returning to paid or unpaid activities has a high public health impact.

Originality/value

This paper contributes towards the evidence base for using psychological therapies with clients experiencing chronic pain and related distress. Importantly, the paper complements evidence for general efficacy (from large-scale controlled studies) through an evaluation of real-world effectiveness (i.e. practice-based evidence).

Keywords

  • ACT
  • Pain
  • Clinically significant change
  • Practice-based evidence
  • Quality assurance/service evaluation
  • Reliable change

Citation

Sheldon, K.L., Clarke, S.P. and Moghaddam, N. (2015), "Clinical effectiveness of a pain psychology service within an outpatient secondary care setting", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 166-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-11-2014-0043

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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