How does it work?

It is a cognitive behavioural self-management programme for people with long-term pain.

It addresses many of the common psychological and emotional problems patients face.

It works best when ‘facilitated’ by a healthcare worker who has taken part in a brief training in CBT. A free training manual can be downloaded here.

Initial face to face / phone / zoom contact with patient – 40 – 60 minutes to build a relationship, assess patient’s needs, introduce the plan and set some initial goals.

Further contacts to set new goals and solve problems over 6 – 12 weeks using goal-setting, motivational and self-management techniques (training manual download). In the evaluation we used 4 contacts over 12 weeks.

The PMP content

The Manual has 4 parts

Part 1

• encourages the patient to challenge the common beliefs we know lead to unhelpful responses – such as avoiding ‘wear and tear’ by resting.
• Explains the difference between acute and long-term pain
• Explains the downward cycle into immobility and misery – ‘the pain cycle’ – and how to reverse it
• Looks at barriers to change and how to overcome them
• Teaches goal setting skills

Part 2

provides a ‘menu’ of self-management advice and solutions. Some of the areas covered are:

• Beating the stress pain causes
• Becoming active again
• Dealing with the worry caused by pain
• Dealing with low spirits
• Relationship problems
• Establishing better sleep patterns

Part 3

The Diary Section is where users choose and record their daily targets and score their success on a week-by-week basis.

Part 4

The Relaxation and stress management component

Teaches people useful skills to use to

• Reduce physical and mental tension
• Rapidly relax when an episode threatens
• Get better sleep

In research many patients said how helpful they found the “Deep Relaxation and Better Breathing CD” it included.  Because many patients no longer have CD players, or prefer to listen on a phone or tablet it is now available as a download using a link from the manual. Some CDs are packed with each box of manuals to give to patients who prefer a physical disc.