Mind-based treatment may bring small gains in pain and confidence.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   People with rheumatoid arthritis in 25 studies, with 8 to 141 people in each. The illness had lasted about 11 years on average. One study was of children with juvenile arthritis.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each study compared a mind-based treatment with usual medical care, a waiting group, or attention or a placebo. Treatments lasted from 3 days to 9 months, about 10 weeks on average.

3. 03

   What happened

   At the end, people given treatment did a little better on pain, disability, coping and confidence. About eight to nine months later, those gains were no longer clear for pain, disability and confidence. The authors could not rule out unpublished weak studies.

What the review found

1. HelpedMotivation

   Across five studies, people given treatment rated themselves more confident at the end.

   • Action: Do a relaxation exercisetested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies · vs usual care, a waiting group, attention or placebo · they rated themselves · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; signs that small negative studies went unpublished

2. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 13 studies, pain was a little lower in the treatment groups at the end.

   • Action: Do a relaxation exercisetested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested

   Pooled analysis of 13 studies · vs usual care, a waiting group, attention or placebo · they rated themselves · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; signs that small negative studies went unpublished

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across four studies, people given treatment coped a little better with pain at the end.

   • Action: Do a relaxation exercisetested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs usual care, a waiting group, attention or placebo · they rated themselves · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; signs that small negative studies went unpublished

4. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 12 studies, people given treatment had a little less trouble with daily tasks at the end.

   • Action: Do a relaxation exercisetested
   • Action: Challenge unhelpful thoughtstested

   Pooled analysis of 12 studies · vs usual care, a waiting group, attention or placebo · they rated themselves · ⚠ most studies had serious flaws; signs that small negative studies went unpublished

Source