Abstract

MOLINA SANDOVAL, Irán Adayani et al. Psychophysiological Intervention based on the Polyvagal Theory for the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2023, vol.13, n.1, pp.5-17.  Epub Nov 10, 2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2023.1.471.

Chronic low back pain is a common chronic pain condition, associated with physical and emotional problems. Recently, Dana (2019) suggested a set of brief psychological strategies, based on the principles of the Polyvagal Theory, for stress management in people with chronic affective problems; however, no use has not been applied in the field of pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment plan based on the autonomic regulation of the ventral vagal complex for the reduction of pain intensity, mood, behavioral and social interference, as well as the effect on anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing associated with pain. Through a pre-experimental study, with a non-probabilistic demonstration, a repeated measures design was obtained to evaluate the effects of a brief program in patients with low back pain, on validated psychometric measures of pain, anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing, as well as autonomic physiological regulation. Heart rate and peripheral temperature. Results revealed a significant (p < .05) decrease in pain interference from mood, work, anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing, as well as an increase in peripheral temperature. This suggests that the treatment was effective in managing the affective problems of these patients, and consistent with the levels of physiological activation proposed by the Polyvagal Theory on the affective state.

Keywords : Polyvagal Theory; Anxiety; Depression; Pain catastrophizing; Heart rate; Peripheral temperatura.