The Power of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy in Managing Chronic Pain
Chronic pain among older adults can be a debilitating condition that significantly impacts their quality of life. However, a groundbreaking new study led by UCLA Health and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office has found a promising approach to reducing chronic pain in older adults. The study, published in JAMA Network Open on June 13, compared the effectiveness of emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating chronic pain and associated mental health symptoms in older veterans.
The results of the study were nothing short of remarkable. Researchers found that 63% of veterans who underwent EAET reported a significant reduction in pain—defined as at least a 30% decrease—compared to only 17% of veterans who underwent CBT. Furthermore, the benefits of EAET were not only immediate but also sustained over time, with 41% of participants still experiencing reduced pain six months after treatment compared to just 14% of CBT patients. In addition to pain reduction, EAET participants also reported improvements in anxiety, depression, PTSD, and overall life satisfaction.
Lead author Brandon Yarns, an assistant professor at UCLA Health’s Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, emphasized the importance of psychotherapy in managing chronic pain. He stated, “Most people with chronic pain don’t consider psychotherapy as a treatment option. They often focus on medications, injections, or surgeries. However, psychotherapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain, and our study highlights the importance of the type of psychotherapy chosen.”
While CBT has long been considered the “gold standard” for treating chronic pain, the benefits of this therapy have been modest. CBT typically involves a combination of techniques such as guided imagery, muscle relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and activity pacing to help patients better cope with their pain. The goal of CBT is not to eradicate pain but to help individuals live well despite their chronic pain.
On the other hand, EAET takes a different approach by focusing on emotional awareness and expression. Developed in the 2010s, this therapy helps patients understand how stress-related emotions can influence their perception of pain. Patients are encouraged to explore past traumas and stressors, ranging from everyday irritations to severe traumas, and to experience and express their emotions. By confronting and releasing these emotions, patients are able to achieve a sense of self-compassion and emotional healing.
The study involved 126 older veterans with musculoskeletal pain, many of whom had a history of psychiatric diagnoses, including PTSD. Half of the participants received in-person CBT sessions, while the other half underwent EAET sessions over a nine-week period. Patients rated their pain levels before, during, and after the sessions, with the majority of EAET participants reporting significant pain reduction compared to CBT patients.
Looking ahead, Yarns is exploring the possibility of conducting virtual group therapy sessions to further investigate the benefits of EAET. Additionally, future neuroimaging studies will be conducted to understand how EAET may lead to changes in the brain compared to traditional CBT.
Overall, the findings of this study offer hope for older adults suffering from chronic pain. By addressing past trauma and stress-related emotions through EAET, individuals can experience significant pain relief and improved mental well-being. The power of emotional awareness and expression therapy in managing chronic pain is truly transformative and deserves further exploration and recognition in the field of pain management.
