The West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Study

More evidence of the remarkable benefits of the Psychophysiologic Disorder concept has been published. In this study, fifty-three veterans (mean age = 73 years, 92% male) with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomized to receive either EAET (Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, a form of Pain Relief Psychotherapy) or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). CBT is the most widely available form of psychotherapy in the U.S. Both treatments were provided as one 90-minute individual session and eight 90-minute group sessions.  The goal for patients was to achieve at least 30% pain relief.

The graph shows that only 5% of patients achieved the goal using CBT. However, an astonishing 42% of the EAET patients reached the goal and one-third reported at least 50% pain relief.

This study documents that far better outcomes are achieved with Pain Relief Psychotherapy which has the goal of alleviating symptoms (rather than just helping patients to cope or live with their condition) and that focuses on stress, trauma, and repressed emotions.

Yarns BC, Lumley MA, Cassidy JT et al.  (2020). Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy Achieves Greater Pain Reduction than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Older Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Preliminary Randomized Comparison Trial.  Pain Medicine, pnaa145, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa145