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This article presents the long-term (18-22 month) follow-up outcomes of a previously published controlled study of cognitive-behavioral social group work treatment of patients experiencing chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the efficacy of a structured group treatment for the management of chronic pain. The author remarks that the importance of using random assignment with appropriate outcome measures, of attending to clinical as well as statistical significance, and of follow-up to assess the permanent effects of interventions have been stressed. The rationale for development of this model is based on the fact that chronic pain, in spite of its severity and prevalence, has not been recognized sufficiently by social workers. Development and evaluation of social work treatment models for chronic pain are lacking in spite of research studies that indicate that cognitive-behavioral strategies are frequently successful in improving clients' subjective perceptions of pain and functioning, although they do not directly address environmental factors and issues of secondary gain. Results of the pilot study indicated that clients made statistically significant improvements in levels of physical and psychosocial dysfunction and negative mood states while not significantly changing their perceived levels of pain.

Spouses of patients with chronic pain face major challenges in learning to cope with the subsequent changes that occur in family life. This study examined the impact of those changes on the chronic pain patient's spouse, examining the extent and severity of psychosocial adjustment problems and the relationship of social support to the level of adjustment. For the twenty spouses in the study, results indicated that they were adversely impacted in multiple areas of their lives and that high levels of perceived partner support were related to better psychosocial adjustment. A multidimensional assessment instrument is evaluated for clinicians and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]