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Psychology and Psychotherapy: Research Studys

Psychotherapy of Phantom Pain in Oncology

Tkachenko G*

Oncology of the Ministry of Health, Russia

*Corresponding author: Tkachenko G, NN Blokhin NMRC, Oncology of the Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia

Submission: June 26, 2018;Published: November 16, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/PPRS.2018.02.000527

ISSN 2639-0612
Volume2 Issue1

Abstract

Psychotherapy using the “mirror box” (by V. Ramachandran) and progressive muscle relaxation (by E. Jacobson) in combination with music are effective in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues. Analysis of VAS data before and after the correction showed a significant reduction in phantom pain in the patients examined: from 73.9+9.0 to 58.9±7.9 scores, respectively (Student’s t-test=4.7; P< 0.05). By Wong-Baker scale, a significant decrease in the intensity of phantom pain from 7.7±1.1 to 5.7±1.1 scores (Student’s t-test=5, P< 0.05).

Keywords:Psychotherapy; Phantom pain; VAS; Wong-baker scale; Method of mirror therapy; Progressive muscular relaxation

Introduction

Amputation or removal of any part is usually associated with a feeling that the missing part is still present and causes disorders of different types of sensitivity, but mainly excruciating pain sensations. The phantom pain is a false sensation, an illusion of the presence of the missing part of the body. As clinical experience shows, even with the complex application of modern antineuropathic agents, opioid and non-opioid analgesics, regional blocks, the treatment of phantom pain in many cases does not give positive results [1,2]. That is why it is important to search for effective methods of prophylaxis and correction of phantom pain in cancer patients. Along with medical treatment, in many countries the great attention has been recently paid to the psychotherapy. It has been proven that one of the valuable tools that can be used to reduce the intensity of pain is psychological interventions and various methods of psychotherapy, which, on the one hand, are safe, but, on the other hand, are very effective [3,4].

Purpose

Evaluation of the effectiveness of psychotherapy methods in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues.

Material and Methods

14 patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues were included in the study: bone osteosarcoma (35.7%), soft tissue sarcoma (64.3%), who underwent amputations and exarticulation of extremities in combination with lymphadenectomy aged 36 to 60 years. Clinical and psychological research provided for the use of questionnaires to assess the intensity of pain: visual analogue scale (VAS) and Wong-Baker faces pain scale. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using a package of statistical programs. The comparative analysis was carried out using Students t-test. The significance of differences in indices was P< 0.05. We have chosen the methods that proved to be the simplest but at the same time, effective for reducing phantom pains: “mirror box” technique and progressive muscle relaxation. 10 sessions of “mirror therapy” (by V. Ramachandran) and 10 sessions of progressive muscular relaxation (by E. Jacobson) have been conducted with each patient, individually, in combination with music or sounds of nature. The sessions were held 2 times a day for 30 minutes of “mirror therapy” and 45 minutes of relaxation. The number of sessions was determined by the terms of the patient’s hospitalization after the surgery (10-14 days).

Results and Discussion

Quantitative analysis of VAS data before and after the correction showed a significant reduction in phantom pain in the patients examined: from 73.9+9.0 to 58.9±7.9 scores, respectively (Students t-test=4.7; P< 0.05). There was a clear improvement in the overall well-being of the patients after the course of correction. A qualitative analysis of the test results showed that phantom pains of varying intensity were initially observed in all patients: only 1 patient (7.1%) showed moderate pain; 1 patient noted unbearable pain (7.1%); severe pain was noted in all others (85.8%). After the course of psychological correction, the number of patients with moderate to severe pain significantly increased to 78.6% and the number of patients with a pronounced level of phantom pains decreased (21.4%). By Wong-Baker scale, a significant decrease in the intensity of phantom pain from 7.7±1.1 to 5.7±1.1 scores (Student’s t-test=5, P< 0.05). The intensity of pain of 8 scores was revealed in 2 patients (14.3%), of 4 scores in 1 patient (7.1%), of 6 scores in 11 patients (78.6%). Along with a decrease in phantom pain, all patients demonstrated improvement in sleep, mood, increased physical activity.

Conclusion

The study showed that the proposed methods of psychotherapy using the “mirror box” and progressive muscle relaxation in combination with music are effective in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues.

References

  1. Cárdenas K, Aranda M (2017) Psychotherapies for the treatment of phantom limb pain. Rev Colomb Psiquiatr 46(3): 178-186.
  2. Castelnuovo G, Giusti EM, Manzoni GM, Saviola D, Gatti A, et al. (2016) Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain: evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation. Front Psychol 19(7): 115.
  3. Reuben S (2008) Persistent postoperative pain: pharmacological treatment strategies in the postoperative setting, pain 2008 - an updated review. In: Lopes CJ, Raja S, Scmelz M (Eds.), IASP Press, Seattle, USA, pp. 159-169.
  4. Sindrup SH (2008) Clinical pharmacology of antiepileptics and antidepressants in the management of neuropathic pain. Pain 2008-an updated review. In: Lopes CJ, Raja S, Scmelz M (Eds.), IASP Press, Seattle, USA, pp. 217-223.

© 2018 Tkachenko G . This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.