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Psychological treatment for atypical non-cardiac chest pain: a controlled evaluation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

I. Klimes ,
R. A. Mayou ,
M. J. Pearce ,
L. Coles  and
J. R. Fagg
I. Klimes*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
R. A. Mayou
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
M. J. Pearce
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
L. Coles
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
J. R. Fagg
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
*
1Address for correspondence: I. Klimes, Department of Clinical Psychology, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX.
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Synopsis

Thirty-one patients with atypical non-cardiac chest pain which had persisted despite negative medical investigation were treated in a controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy. The average duration of pain was 4·7 years. Patients were randomized to either immediate treatment or as a control to assessment only. Treatment involved teaching patients how to anticipate and control symptoms, and modification of inappropriate health beliefs. The average number of sessions given was 7·2. There were significant reductions in chest pain, limitations and disruption of daily life, autonomic symptoms, distress and psychological morbidity in the treated group as compared with the control group who were unchanged. The assessment-only group were treated subsequently and showed comparable changes. Improvements were fully maintained by both treated groups at four to six-months follow-up.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , August 1990 , pp. 605 - 611
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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