Cognitive behavioral program benefits patients with diabetes

(HealthDay)—A peer-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based intervention may improve quality of life (QOL) among patients with diabetes and chronic pain, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

Susan J. Andreae, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and colleagues randomly assigned 195 participants (80 percent women; 96 percent African-American; 87 percent obese) with diabetes and chronic pain to either a three-month, peer-delivered, telephone-administered program or a control group. Content either focused on integrating CBT principles to improve physical activity, functional status, pain, and QOL or was a general health advice program (control group). Participants were from underserved areas in Alabama.

The researchers found that compared with controls, at follow-up, intervention participants had greater improvement in functional status, pain, and QOL. There were no significant changes in physiologic measures in either group. A greater proportion of intervention participants reported no pain or did other forms of exercise when pain prevented them from walking for exercise at three months compared with controls.

"Trained community members can deliver effective CBT-based interventions in rural and under-resourced communities," the authors write.

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