Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches ‘new responses’ to pain
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Workers compensation claims managers are starting to see that healing an injury must go beyond the muscle and bones for some patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a buzzword in the alternative therapies discussions in comp circles. It can help an injured worker heal that part of their mind that worries about re-injury or “catastrophizes” the injury, imagining worst-case scenarios when trying to heal, said Terrence B. Welsh, Columbus, Ohio-based chief medical officer for the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.
The bureau announced in May 2018 that it would be expanding its offerings for injured workers to include behavioral assessments and therapy.
CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on teaching patients “new responses” to pain or perceptions of pain. “We know this takes a more holistic view of the injured worker and the biopsychosocial aspects. We know that’s huge when we see some behavioral barriers to healing,” said Dr. Welsh.
“These are normal feelings after injury and we realize some people don’t have a coping mechanism and then engage in behavior that impedes their healing,” he said, adding that missed appointments for physical therapy is one common issue when a person is afraid of re-injury or is traumatized by the injury.
Washington state is working to develop a similar program to offer and track CBT’s success with injured workers, said Zachary Gray, an epidemiologist in the Office of the Medical Director for the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
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