Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
Specific interventions included in the review
Cognitive behavioural therapy, including behaviour therapy and biofeedback or relaxation. Control treatments included waiting list controls, relaxation exercises or attention control group (education).
Participants included in the review
Adults presenting with chronic pain, including low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, upper limb pain, fybromyalgia, etc., excluding headache; 62% were female, the mean age was 48.35 years and the mean chronicity of the samples was 12.27 years.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Pain experience, mood/affect, cognitive coping and appraisal, pain behaviour and social role performance.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Papers were read by each of the authors and a consensus decision was taken as to whether the paper contained data suitable for meta-analysis, i.e. contained post treatment means and variances or contrast statistics between two groups (t or F)