Effects of a non‐pharmacological approach for chronic pain management in patients with haemophilia: efficacy of cognitive‐behavioural therapy associated with physiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction More than half of adult patients with severe haemophilia (PWH) suffer pain daily, with chronic pain (CP) in more than 15% of cases, thereby reducing their quality of life (QoL). However, there are no evidence‐based therapeutic guidelines for pain management. Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined protocol based on psychology and physiotherapy in the improvement of CP self‐efficacy in PWH with CP. Secondary outcomes are changes in QoL, emotional status, pain and kinesiophobia. Methods In this prospective controlled trial study, recruited patients were allocated either to an experimental group (EG, n = 10) or to a control group (CG, n = 9). EG received interventions over four months: one cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) session per month and three home exercise sessions per week. Self‐efficacy (Chronic Pain Self‐Efficacy Scale), QoL (A36 Hemophilia‐QoL), emotional status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Rosenberg's Self‐esteem Scale), pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia) were assessed at three time points (Week 0, Month 4 and Month 7). The intervention effects were determined with mixed 2‐factor ANOVAs. Results The EG showed a significant improvement (p < .05) in the control of symptoms and pain management scores on the Self‐Efficacy Scale, QoL, self‐esteem emotional status, pain and kinesiophobia. The intervention effects remained significant (p < .05) over time for pain management, QoL, pain and kinesiophobia. Conclusion The non‐pharmacological treatment applied based on CBT and physiotherapy showed to be effective in improving CP self‐efficacy, QoL and emotional status, while reducing pain and kinesiophobia in PWH with CP.