• Carlijn de Roos, A C Veenstra, A de Jongh, M den Hollander-Gijsman, N J A van der Wee, F G Zitman, and Y R van Rood.
• Mental Health Center Rivierduinen, Leiden, The Netherlands. c.deroos@ggzkinderenenjeugd.nl
• Pain Res Manag. 2010 Mar 1; 15 (2): 65-71.

BackgroundChronic phantom limb pain (PLP) is a disabling chronic pain syndrome for which regular pain treatment is seldom effective. Pain memories resulting from long-lasting preamputation pain or pain flashbacks, which are part of a traumatic memory, are reported to be powerful elicitors of PLP.ObjectiveTo investigate whether a psychological treatment directed at processing the emotional and somatosensory memories associated with amputation reduces PLP.MethodsTen consecutive participants (six men and four women) with chronic PLP after leg amputation were treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Pain intensity was assessed during a two-week period before and after treatment (mean number of sessions = 5.9), and at short- (three months) and long-term (mean 2.8 years) follow-up.ResultsMultivariate ANOVA for repeated measures revealed an overall time effect (F[2, 8]=6.7; P<0.02) for pain intensity. Pairwise comparison showed a significant decrease in mean pain score before and after treatment (P=0.00), which was maintained three months later. All but two participants improved and four were considered to be completely pain free at three months follow-up. Of the six participants available at long-term follow-up (mean 2.8 years), three were pain free and two had reduced pain intensity.ConclusionsThese preliminary results suggest that, following a psychological intervention focused on trauma or pain-related memories, substantial long-term reduction of chronic PLP can be achieved. However, larger outcome studies are required.

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