Therapeutic Touch is found to decrease pain in elders with degenerative arthritis, compared with progressive muscle relaxation or routine treatment

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing in Eau Claire investigated whether Therapeutic Touch (TT) decreased pain in elders with degenerative arthritis, as compared with routine treatment and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).

Eighty-two noninstitutionalized subjects, age 55 or older, were randomly assigned to TT or PMR treatments. Subjects served as their own controls for 4 weeks and then received six treatments at 1-week intervals. Visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain intensity and distress were used.

Significant differences from baseline to post-sixth treatment were found within groups. TT decreased pain (t(46) = 7.60, p = < .001) and distress (t(44) = 7.08, p = < .001). PMR decreased pain (t(36) = 6.58, p = .005) and distress (t(36) = 6.90, p = < .001). Scores were lower for PMR, showing that pain and distress were more improved by Therapeutic Touch.

Citation: Eckes Peck SD. The effectiveness of therapeutic touch for decreasing pain in elders with degenerative arthritis. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 1997 Jun;15 (2): pages 176-98.

Differential effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing osteoarthritis pain: a comparison of Erikson hypnosis and Jacobson relaxation.

A new randomized, controlled clinical trial from France investigated the effectiveness of 8-session Eriksonian hypnosis and 8-session Jacobsonian progressive relaxation for the reduction of osteoarthritis pain, using subjects with knee or hip pain. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the intervention groups or a control group. Overall, results demonstrated that the two experimental groups had a lower level of subjective pain than the control group, and that the level of subjective pain decreased with time. In addition, pain reduction occurred more rapidly for the hypnosis group. Results also showed that both hypnosis and relaxation are effective in reducing the amount of analgesic medication taken by participants.

Citation: Gay MC, Philippot P, Luminet O. Differential effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing osteoarthritis pain: a comparison of Erikson hypnosis and Jacobson relaxation. European Journal of Pain 2002;6(1):1-16.

A randomized, controlled British study examined the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for patients with recent onset (less than 2 years), seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty-three participants with a diagnosis of classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis received routine medical management during the study, but half were randomly allocated to the CBT intervention. All pre- and post-treatment assessments were conducted blind to the allocation. Significant differences were found between the groups at both post-treatment and 6-month follow-up in depressive symptoms. While the CBT group showed a reduction in depressive symptoms, the same symptoms increased in the Standard group. Immediately after treatment (but not at follow-up), the CBT group also showed reduction in C-reactive protein levels. However, the CBT group did show significant improvement in joint involvement at 6-month follow-up, as compared with the Standard group, showing physical improvements above those achieved with standard care. These results indicate that cognitive-behavioral intervention offered as an adjunct to standard clinical management early in the course of RA is efficacious in producing reductions in both psychological and physical morbidity.

Citation: Sharpe L, Sensky T, Timberlake N, Ryan B, Brewin CR, Allard S. A blind, randomized, controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural intervention for patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis: preventing psychological and physical morbidity. Pain 2001 Jan;89(2-3):275-83.