• M Buhrman, A Fredriksson, G Edström, D Shafiei, C Tärnqvist, B Ljótsson, T Hursti, T Gordh, and G Andersson.
• Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. monica.buhrman@psyk.uu.se
• Eur J Pain. 2013 May 1; 17 (5): 753-65.

BackgroundChronic pain can be treated with cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in multidisciplinary settings. However, relapse is likely, and there is a need for cost-effective secondary interventions for persons with residual problems after rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a guided Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural intervention for patients who had completed multidisciplinary treatment at a pain management unit.MethodsA total of 72 persons with residual pain problems were included in the study and were randomized to either treatment for 8 weeks or to a control group who were invited to participate in a moderated online discussion forum. The participants had different chronic pain conditions, and a majority were women (72%). Twenty-two percent of the participants dropped out of the study before the post-treatment assessment.ResultsIntent-to-treat analyses demonstrated differences on the catastrophizing subscale of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (Cohen's d = 0.70), in favour of the treatment group but a small within-group effect. Differences were also found on other measures of pain-related distress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. A 6-month follow-up exhibited maintenance of improvements.ConclusionsWe conclude that Internet-delivered treatment can be partly effective for persons with residual problems after completed pain rehabilitation.© 2012 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters.

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