Key result
Cognitive behavioural training and physical activity show no autonomic or pain benefits over usual care.
Why the study?
The effects of cognitive behavioural training and physical activity programmes for patients with stress-related illnesses were evaluated to address their comparative impact.
Does cognitive behavioural training or physical activity improve outcomes in patients with stress-related illnesses compared to usual care?
RCT (n=75)
Randomized
Does cognitive behavioural training or physical activity improve outcomes in patients with stress-related illnesses compared to usual care?
A 10-week cognitive behavioural training or physical activity program showed little long-term difference compared with usual care for patients with stress-related illnesses.
No support for cognitive behavioural training or physical activity to modulate autonomic activity; challenges assumptions of benefit versus usual care in stress-related illness.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a cognitive behavioural training programme and a physical activity programme for patients with stress-related illnesses. DESIGN: In a randomized controlled study, patients were allocated randomly to 1 of 3 groups, where group 1 participated in a cognitive behavioural training programme, group 2 participated in a physical activity programme, and group 3, the control group, was offered usual care for the course of the study. SUBJECTS: A total of 75 patients participated in the study. They had been on sick leave for at least 50% of the time for between 1 month and 2 years due to stress-related illnesses. METHODS: Measurements of autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds and subjective ratings of health and behaviour were made before and after a 10-week intervention period, and at 6 and 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS: Minor differences in autonomic activity and pressure-pain thresholds were found between the groups immediately after the intervention. At the 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, the differences were no longer present. Patients in the cognitive behavioural training group improved their ratings of general health compared with the physical activity group throughout the study. CONCLUSION: The study showed little difference in the effect of cognitive behavioural training and physical activity, compared with usual care, for patients with stress-related illnesses.
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Heiden et al. (2007) conducted an RCT in Stress-related illnesses (n=75). Cognitive behavioural training or physical activity vs. Usual care was evaluated on Autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds and subjective ratings of health and behaviour. Cognitive behavioural training and physical activity showed little difference in autonomic activity and pressure-pain thresholds compared with usual care at 6 and 12 months.
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