EAET Superior to CBT in Chronic Pain Management for Older Patients

Study Shows EAET More Effective than CBT for Chronic Pain in Older Patients

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open revealed that emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) may be a more effective treatment for chronic pain in older patients compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The research, led by Brandon C. Yarns, MD, from the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, focused on older veterans aged 60 to 95 with musculoskeletal pain lasting at least three months. The study included a racially and ethnically diverse group of participants, with 66 individuals assigned to EAET and 60 to CBT.

The findings of the study demonstrated that EAET was superior to CBT in reducing pain severity at both posttreatment and follow-up. Participants who received EAET reported a clinically significant reduction in pain compared to those who underwent CBT. Moreover, EAET was found to be more effective in addressing anxiety, depression, general life satisfaction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and overall treatment satisfaction. The study highlighted that EAET could be a preferred intervention for older patients with complex medical and psychiatric conditions experiencing chronic pain.

New Psychotherapy Shows Promise in Reducing Chronic Pain among Older Adults

A groundbreaking study conducted by UCLA Health and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office introduced emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) as a novel approach to managing chronic pain in older adults. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research compared EAET to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating chronic pain and related mental health issues in older veterans. The study revealed that EAET led to a significant reduction in pain severity, with 63% of participants experiencing at least a 30% decrease in pain compared to 17% in the CBT group.

Lead author Brandon Yarns emphasized that EAET focuses on confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions to alleviate pain symptoms. The therapy, developed in the 2010s, encourages patients to express and release emotions associated with pain perception, ultimately promoting self-compassion and emotional healing. Yarns underscored the importance of addressing stress-related emotions in influencing the brain's perception of pain, highlighting the effectiveness of EAET in improving pain tolerance and overall well-being.

In addition to reducing pain intensity, EAET also demonstrated positive outcomes in addressing anxiety, depression, PTSD, and enhancing life satisfaction among older adults. By providing a unique approach to pain management through emotional expression and release, EAET offers a promising alternative to conventional treatments such as CBT, paving the way for enhanced psychotherapeutic interventions in chronic pain management. Yarns is currently exploring the potential of virtual group sessions and neuroimaging studies to further investigate the benefits of EAET in older patient populations.

With the growing recognition of the role of psychotherapy in chronic pain management, EAET emerges as a promising intervention that not only targets pain symptoms but also addresses underlying emotional factors contributing to pain perception. The study's findings underscore the importance of integrating emotional awareness and expression therapy into mainstream clinical practice to improve outcomes for older adults struggling with chronic pain.