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Effectiveness of non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions in pain management in patients with multiple sclerosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

NeuroRehabilitation
January 1, 2022
Hikmat Hadoush et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, including mindfulness, in reducing pain intensity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Results Summary

The study found that mindfulness significantly reduced pain intensity in MS patients (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.14, P = 0.009), indicating a meaningful therapeutic effect.

Population

Adults with multiple sclerosis experiencing pain.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
neuromodulation
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.51, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.09, P = 0.02
significant effect on pain intensity reduction
#1
transcranial direct current stimulation
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.67, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.16, P = 0.01
significant effect on pain intensity reduction
#2
mind-body therapies
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.7, P = 0.02
significant improvement in pain intensity
#3
mindfulness
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.14, P = 0.009
significant improvement in pain intensity
#4
hypnosis
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.88, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.46, P = 0.0001
significant improvement in pain intensity
#5
trigger point therapies
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.83, 95% CI -1.65 to -0.01, P = 0.05
significant improvement in pain intensity
#6
cognitive behavioral therapy
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
SMD -0.64, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.11, P = 0.02
significant improvement in pain intensity
#7
relaxation therapy
no change
pain
patients with MS
SMD -0.82, 95% CI -1.94 to 0.31, P = 0.15
no significant effect on pain reduction
#8
non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions
decrease
pain intensity
patients with MS
-
showed potential therapeutic effects in reducing pain intensity
#9
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive inflammatory and autoimmune neurological disease caused by inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system. Pain is a typical symptom of central nervous system demyelination, affecting 63% of adults with MS. Recently, the role of non-pharmacological pain management in patients is growing because the non-pharmacological interventions are considered safe, affordable, easy, and accessible. However, to date, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have comprehensively examined the therapeutic effects of the variety of non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions in the management of pain in patients with MS. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of the non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions in pain management in patients with MS. METHODS: A comprehensive search using PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct databases was performed and included all randomized controlled trials, randomized cross-over trials, and quasi-experimental trials assessing the effect of non-pharmacological interventions for managing pain in patients with MS. This study was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines of a systematic review and pair-wise meta-analysis. Meta-analyses were performed by calculating the standardized mean difference at a 95% confidence interval using Review Manager software. RESULTS: Twenty-nine papers were included in the systematic review, and only 22 of them were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed a significant effect of neuromodulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on pain intensity reduction in patients with MS (SMD -0.51, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.09, P = 0.02), (SMD -0.67, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.16 P = 0.01), respectively. The analysis showed significant improvement in pain intensity in patient with MS after mind-body therapies (SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.7, P = 0.02), mindfulness (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.14, P = 0.009), hypnosis (SMD -0.88, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.46, P = 0.0001), trigger point therapies (SMD -0.83, 95% CI -1.65 to -0.01, P = 0.05) and cognitive behavioral therapy (SMD -0.64, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.11, P = 0.02). However, there is no significant effect of relaxation therapy on pain reduction in patients with MS (SMD -0.82, 95% CI -1.94 to 0.31, P = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the majority of the non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions showed potential therapeutic effects in reducing pain intensity in patients with MS.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultCognitive Behavioral TherapyHumansMultiple SclerosisPainPain ManagementTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations12
Citations/Year4.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.17
NIH Percentile76.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.67
Normalized Score0.70
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