Stress reduction via neuro-emotional technique to achieve the simultaneous resolution of chronic low back pain with multiple inflammatory and biobehavioural indicators:A randomized,double-blinded,placebo-controlled trial

Background:Beginning with the concepts of stress developed by Selye,an approach to stress and pain management,known as neuro-emotional technique(NET),has been developed.It is a treatment approach based on the principle that the stressor effects of dormant and/or current unresolved issues or trauma are what determine one’s bodily responses.These responses are relatively personalized to the conditioned,experiential and emotional reality of the individual.Objective:To determine the effect of NET on patients with chronic low back pain(CLBP)over time.Design,setting,participants,and interventions:In a randomized,double-blinded,placebo-controlled study conducted in a single clinic,NET or control treatments were given twice weekly for 4 weeks in a population of 112 patients.Main outcome measures:Outcome measures,including Oswestry Disability Index,Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale,the psychoneuroimmunology markers of blood serum levels of C-reactive protein,tumour necrosis factor-a,interleukin-1(IL-1),IL-6,and IL-10,and 10 dimensions of the Short Form Health Survey scale,were assessed at baseline and at 1,3 and 6 months following the intervention period.Results:Compared to placebo,NET produced clinical and statistical significance(P<0.001)via declines of virtually all physiological,pain and disability markers,accompanied by gains in quality-of-life indicators at 0(baseline),1,3 and 6 months.Reductions of the percentages of patients whose 5 biomarkers lay outside the normative range were achieved at 1,3 and 6 months by NET but not control interventions.Conclusion:A randomized,controlled trial of CLBP patients indicated that 8 NET interventions,compared to placebo,produced clinically and statistically significant reductions in pain,disability and inflammatory biomarkers,and improvements in quality-of-life measures.