Somatocognitive therapy in the management of chronic gynaecological pain. A review of the historical background and results of a current approach

Abstract

The women averaged 31 years, pain duration 6.1 years, average number of previous surgical procedures 1.8 per women. In the STGT group, no significant change was found, neither in pain scores, motor patterns or psychological distress during the observation period. In the group receiving STGT + MSCT, significant reduction in pain score and improvement in motor function were found at the end of therapy, and the significant improvement continued through the follow-up (64% reduction of pain scores, and 80% increase in the average score for respiration, as an example of motor pattern improvement). GHQ scores were significantly improved for anxiety and coping (p < 0.01). Conclusions Somatocognitive therapy is anewapproach that appears to be very promising in the management of chronic gynecological pain. Short-term out-patient treatment significantly reduces pain scores and improves motor function. Implications Chronic pelvic pain in women is a major health care problem with no specific therapies and poor prognosis. A novel, somatocognitive approach has documented positive effects. It is now studied by other clinical researchers in order to reinforce its evidence base.

Psychological therapies for chronic pelvic pain: systematic review of randomized controlled trials

“…Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy assessed through a good‐quality trial (22) had a favorable effect when used in addition to standard gynecological treatment. This therapeutic approach can be seen as a hybrid between physiotherapy and psychotherapy (26), and involves teaching patients how to change their posture, breathing patterns and the way they move in order to reduce their pain. It uses a cognitive approach to lead women to an improved understanding and experience of their own body.…”

Recovering from provoked vestibulodynia: Experiences from encounters with somatocognitive therapy

“…SCT is a newly developed physiotherapeutic approach aimed at dealing with longstanding pain disorders. It combines elements from cognitive psychotherapy with therapeutic principles from Mensendieck physiotherapy (Haugstad et al, 2011;Klemmetsen and Rugseth, 2005;Winterowd et al, 2003). With regard to the new recommendations for interventions in chronic pain conditions (IASP, 2009, Nijs et al, 2013, Fersum et al, 2013, the SCT approach, as developed in this study, addresses both the physical and the psychological dimensions of chronic pain.…”

“…Patients were encouraged to use tampons of gradually increasing size (Fougner and Haugstad, 2015). In SCT, an important goal for the patient is to develop body awareness, gain new bodily experiences, and develop coping strategies and a sense of mastery of one's own life (see a further description in (Haugstad et al, 2011).…”

Abdominal SEMG Feedback for Diaphragmatic Breathing: A Methodological Note

“…The absence of lower abdominal muscle tension has been associated with a history of abdominal pain and pelvic floor discomfort in which the muscle activity is inhibited because of learned disuse (Gilbert & Chaitow, 2012;Haugstad et al, 2008;Haugstad, Kirste, Leganger, Haakonsen, & Haugstad, 2011). Low chronic abdominal muscle tension has been associated with the chronic triggering of the defense reaction (Haugstad et al, 2008).…”