Psychotherapy of phantom pain in oncology

doi:10.15406/jpcpy.2018.09.00599

Journal of

eISSN: 2373-6445

Psychology & Clinical Psychiatry

Clinical Paper Volume 9 Issue 6

Psychotherapy of phantom pain in oncology

Tkachenko G, Stepanova A

N.N. Blokhin NMRC of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Russia

Correspondence: Tkachenko G, N.N. Blokhin, NMRC of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

Received: April 20, 2018 | Published: November 20, 2018

Citation: Tkachenko G, Stepanova A. Psychotherapy of phantom pain in oncology. J Psychol Clin Psychiatry. 2018;9(6):631-632. DOI: 10.15406/jpcpy.2018.09.00599

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Abstract

Psychotherapy using the "mirror box" (by V. Ramachandran) and progressive muscle relaxation (by E. Jacobson) in combination with music are effective in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues. Analysis of VAS data before and after the correction showed a significant reduction in phantom pain in the patients examined: from 73.9+9.0 to 58.9±7.9 scores, respectively (Student’s t-test = 4.7; P <0.05). By Wong-Baker scale, a significant decrease in the intensity of phantom pain from 7.7±1.1 to 5.7±1.1 scores (Student’s t-test =5, P <0.05).

Keywords: psychotherapy, phantom pain, VAS, Wong-Baker scale, method of "mirror therapy", progressive muscular relaxation

Introduction

Amputation or removal of any part is usually associated with a feeling that the missing part is still present and causes disorders of different types of sensitivity, but mainly excruciating pain sensations. The phantom pain is a false sensation, an illusion of the presence of the missing part of the body. The symptoms of phantom pain are especially pronounced and often manifest themselves after surgery for malignant tumors. According to different authors, the PP manifestations in cancer patients are observed with a high frequency from 30 to 90%.¹ Phantom pains can appear immediately after surgery but their onset can be observed after a considerable time after amputation. With time, the pain becomes less pronounced, and its incidence decreases. However, there are cases when phantom pain persists even 5-7 years after amputation. As clinical experience shows, even with the complex application of modern anti-neuropathic agents, opioid and non-opioid analgesics, regional blocks, the treatment of phantom pain in many cases does not give positive results.^2,3 That is why it is important to search for effective methods of prophylaxis and correction of phantom pain in cancer patients. Along with medical treatment, in many countries the great attention has been recently paid to the psychotherapy. It has been proven that one of the valuable tools that can be used to reduce the intensity of pain is psychological interventions and various methods of psychotherapy, which, on the one hand, are safe, but, on the other hand, are very effective.^1,4In the international practice, hypnotherapy, biological feedback, "mirror box" technique, autogenic training, neuroinduction and self-induced hypnosis, and many other methods are widely used.^1,5 In this regard, the studies in this area are relevant as well as the use not only of existing techniques, but the creation of new effective methods of psychological correction of phantom pain.

Purpose

Evaluation of the effectiveness of psychotherapy methods in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues.

Material and methods

14 patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues were included in the study: bone osteosarcoma (35.7%), soft tissue sarcoma (64.3%), who underwent amputations and exarticulation of extremities in combination with lymphadenectomy aged 36 to 60 years. Clinical and psychological research provided for the use of questionnaires to assess the intensity of pain: visual analogue scale (VAS) and Wong-Baker faces pain scale. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using a package of statistical programs. The comparative analysis was carried out using Student's t-test. The significance of differences in indices was P <0.05. We have chosen the methods that proved to be the simplest but at the same time, effective for reducing phantom pains: "mirror box" technique and progressive muscle relaxation. 10 sessions of "mirror therapy" (by V. Ramachandran) and 10 sessions of progressive muscular relaxation (by E. Jacobson) have been conducted with each patient, individually, in combination with music or sounds of nature. The sessions were held 2 times a day for 30 minutes of "mirror therapy" and 45 minutes of relaxation. The number of sessions was determined by the terms of the patient's hospitalization after the surgery (10-14 days).
The proposed method included four steps:

Stage I – before surgery – psychological preparation of the patient for amputation (exarticulation and other surgical interventions). At this stage, information and explanatory work was carried out with the patients, the content of which was determined by the specifics of the diseases: the patient received information from the doctor about the forthcoming surgical intervention and its consequences (including the possible development of phantom pain).
Stage II – after surgery – psychological diagnosis: Before the psychotherapy, a psychodiagnosis was carried out, including an assessment of the pain syndrome, as well as the actual mental state for detecting depression, high level of anxiety caused by oncological disease and greatly complicating the correction of phantom pain. Carrying out psychodiagnosis is important for increasing the patient's motivation for psychotherapy.
Stage III – psychotherapy – conducting psychotherapeutic methods aimed at reducing the pain.
Stage IV – (before discharge) – repeated psychodiagnosis to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.

Results and discussion

Quantitative analysis of VAS data before and after the correction showed a significant reduction in phantom pain in the patients examined: from 73.9+9.0 to 58.9±7.9 scores, respectively (Student’s t-test = 4.7; P <0.05). There was a clear improvement in the overall well-being of the patients after the course of correction. A qualitative analysis of the test results showed that phantom pains of varying intensity were initially observed in all patients: only 1 patient (7.1%) showed moderate pain; 1 patient noted unbearable pain (7.1%); severe pain was noted in all others (85.8%). After the course of psychological correction, the number of patients with moderate to severe pain significantly increased to 78.6% and the number of patients with a pronounced level of phantom pains decreased (21.4%). By Wong-Baker scale, a significant decrease in the intensity of phantom pain from 7.7±1.1 to 5.7±1.1 scores (Student’s t-test = 5, P <0.05). The intensity of pain of 8 scores was revealed in 2 patients (14.3%), of 4 scores – in 1 patient (7.1%), of 6 scores – in 11 patients (78.6%). Along with a decrease in phantom pain, all patients demonstrated improvement in sleep, mood, and increased physical activity.

Conclusion

The study showed that the proposed methods of psychotherapy using the "mirror box" and progressive muscle relaxation in combination with music are effective in correcting phantom pain in patients with malignant tumors of bones and soft tissues.