The Effects of Brief Guided Imagery on Patients Suffering From Chronic Back Pain: An A-B Design Study

Background: Guided imagery (GI) is a non-pharmacological method used to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of brief GI on symptoms of chronic back pain in adults treated in the Rheumatology clinic. Design: A-B design study. Settings & Participants: A sample of 35 women with chronic back pain were recruited at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel. Methods: All subjects completed questionnaires at recruitment (T1), and after 8-10 weeks, they completed questionnaires again before the first intervention (T2). The intervention included five brief GI group meetings every 2-3 weeks, one hour each (3-5 subjects per group). Participants learned 6 GI exercises and were asked to practice brief guided imagery exercises at least once daily. Then, questionnaires were completed the third time (T3). Outcome measures: MOQ - Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, STAI - State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, FABQ - Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, NPRS - Numerical Pain Rating Scale (average pain over the last week). Results: Compared with the period without intervention, NPRS (Δ = 2.53, standard error [SE] = 0.43, p < .001), STAI (Δ = 8.41, SE = 1.95, p < .001), and MOQ (Δ = 0.06, SE = 0.02, p = .019) reported significantly lower levels after brief guided imagery training. However, no statistically significant change was found in FABQ. Conclusions: The brief guided imagery intervention may help alleviate chronic back pain, help decrease anxiety, and improve daily activity in women who suffer from chronic low back pain.