OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the efficacy of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on pain, sleep parameters and psychosocial factors in chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions in adults and adolescents. METHODS: The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was performed using the databases of Medline (PubMed), Scopus, PEDro and Web of Science. The qualitative assessment was done by using Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and Cochrane's risk of bias (ROB 2.0) tool. The quantitative analysis was performed using the Rev Man 5.4.1 using a random effects model, SMD with 95% confidence intervals and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADEpro/GDT. RESULTS: Twelve randomised-controlled trials (n=1485) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed statistically significant effect in favour of PNE on reducing pain intensity (SMD: -0.27 95% CI, -0.5 to 0.00; I2=67%) and total sleep time with small to medium effect size (SMD: 0.42 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.71; I2=0%). However, no statistically significant differences were observed for other sleep parameters and psychosocial outcomes, despite some outcomes indicating a moderate clinical effect. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that PNE alone can reduce pain intensity, but greater improvements in sleep and psychosocial outcomes are seen when it is combined with interventions such as CBT and therapeutic exercises. These results highlight the potential role of PNE within a multimodal approach to pain management, while also underscoring the need for further research on its impact on sleep parameters in a specific population.
Khan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.