Tailoring meaning centred therapy to the needs of chronic pain patient
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tailoring Breitbart's meaning centred group therapy manual to the needs of chronic pain patients
IRAS ID
182866
Contact name
Diego Vitali
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Roehampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 17 days
Research summary
One in five of all Europeans suffer from chronic pain. Current research suggests that although several therapeutic models are currently applied, we still need to develop an effective psychological therapy for chronic pain patients. Recent research suggests that one of the most promising lines of development in the field of psychotherapy for chronic pain seems to be that of meaning centred group interventions: i.e. group therapies focused on helping clients to find meaning and purpose in their day-to-day experience. Explicit recommendations to develop these therapies are emerging in the field of chronic pain but currently a psychotherapy approach that directly addresses meaning issues is yet to be developed. The current literature reports evidence suggesting the use of the manual written and validated by Breitbart (2014) as one developmental model for new meaning centred therapies to be developed and applied in the field of chronic pain (Dezutter 2013).
In order to adapt, develop and write the first manual of meaning centred group psychotherapy for chronic pain patients (MCGP-CP) it will be necessary to consider strengths and weaknesses of the current dominant treatments, while it is will be also crucial to seek the patients’ insights and ideas around the key areas of this adaptation process. Therefore, this research will select and interview chronic pain patients that had previous experience of group therapy in the current pain management programmes. We will then interview chronic pain patients to explore from clients' perspectives: a) what was useful or not useful about previous therapy; b) how the patients relate to themselves as having meaning in life.
In summary the study will unfold as follow:
1. Interviews - carry out interviews with chronic pain patients that have undertaken a cycle of group therapy offered by the NHS's pain management program (PMP) at Kingston's Pain Clinic (London, UK).
2. Writing - On the basis of this analysis, write the first experimental draft of the new MCGP for chronic pain (MCGP-CP).
3. Feedback - Send the draft manual to professionals in the field of chronic pain and to chronic pain patients to receive written feedback.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
16/ES/0020
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion