Patient Perspectives on the Process and Outcome of Group Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain

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Abstract
Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) targets traumatic or conflictual emotional and interpersonal contributors to chronic pain. This qualitative study examined patients’ experiences of 4-session, group EAET conducted in an Australian tertiary pain clinic. Interviews with 10 adults who completed the therapy were analyzed via thematic analysis. Seven themes were identified. Patients noted that EAET was emotionally “challenging but worth it,” and that the group “provided strength in numbers, usually.” Although only some patients reported pain reduction, most reported that EAET was beneficial in various respects, including improving their relationship to pain (“pain takes a back seat”) and improved interpersonal and emotional functioning (“changing relationships”). Regarding therapy structure and content, patients experienced “validation in pain education,” but felt that the program was too short and needed additional care provision given its high intensity (“healing takes time” and “need for ongoing care”). All patients recommended EAET, although with some caveats, especially about format and patient readiness. This study finds that EAET is viewed as helpful by people with chronic pain, especially regarding their emotional and interpersonal functioning, and with some improvement in pain or how it is experienced. Yet, EAET is also emotionally challenging, and the 4-session version conducted here is too brief; attention needs to be given to extending its length and monitoring and responding to individual differences among patients.

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