[Group intervention from a sensorimotor approach to reduce the intensity of chronic pain].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness, on people with chronic pain, of an intervention (Time In) designed to reduce pain and to improve psychological symptoms.

DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial with a control group, taking three measurements over three months.

SETTING: Granada, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 40 women aged 18 or older with a history (over 6 months) of chronic pain. The recruitment was in the Fibromyalgia Association of Granada, Spain (AGRAFIM).

INTERVENTIONS: Time In is a sensorimotor intervention that combines biomechanical physiotherapeutic procedures and psychological strategies. A weekly session of 3h was planned and the total of the program was developed during five weeks.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Independent variables: sociodemographic information, clinical history and Time In intervention. Dependent variables: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-S), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90-R) and Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation (CORE-OM).

RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between control group and intervention group of most of the scales used in postintervention and follow up measurements. Thus, significantly lower mean scores were obtained in intensity, interference and areas of pain, quality of life, psychological symptoms and behavioural change. Similar results were observed on d Cohen scores. They were 'very important' on intensity of pain (d=-1.01, d=-0.97) and interference of pain (d=-0.85, d=-0.74), with an improvement percentage from 21% to 30%.

CONCLUSIONS: Time In intervention reduces pain and improves psychological symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia; this results in a better quality of life.