Brief cognitive interventions for burn pain

This study tested the efficacy of 2 brief cognitive interventions in supple menting regular medical treatment for pain during burn dressing change. For ty-two burn inpatients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: sensory focusing , music distraction, and usual care. Patients reported pain, pain relief sa tisfaction with pain control, and pain coping strategies. The sensory focus ing group reported greater pain relief compared to the music distraction gr oup and a reduction in remembered pain compared to the usual care group, al though group differences were not observed on serial pain ratings. In addit ion, after controlling for burn size and relevant covariates, regression an alyses indicated that catastrophizing predicted pain, memory for pain, and satisfaction with pain control. Refinement of the sensory focusing interven tion is warranted to reduce catastrophic thinking and improve pain relief.