ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Psychoeducational programs with a cognitive behavioral approach are pointed out in the literature as effective tools in the management of chronic pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate if a psychodrama approach of the program has similar effects, as well as identifying if there are benefits in developing them at the beginning multidisciplinary treatments to foster the compliance to the proposed treatments.
METHODS:
The study was a quasi-experimental one, with a non-probabilistic sample, for convenience. Ninety patients with chronic pain of several etiologies who started treatment in a tertiary hospital in the city of São Paulo in the period from 2015 to 2017, were invited. Among them, 81 concluded one of the 6 programs. Patients were evaluated with several resources before and at the end of the program.
RESULTS:
The results obtained are similar to the ones in the literature: reduction of anxious and depressive traits, and intensity of pain; increase in active strategies of confrontation and alteration in the period of the change stage. Moreover, to deal with pain as a chronic process interferes with the patients’ identity, which can be observed by the change in the pattern of living with the pain, that can contribute or disturb the compliance to the proposed multidisciplinary treatments.
CONCLUSION:
The development of psychoeducational programs with a different approach (Psychodrama) for people who suffer from chronic pain can have beneficial effects, similar to the groups described in the literature.
Keywords:
Chronic pain; Health education; Psychodrama