Abstract
Many individuals suffering from arthritis and other rheumatic diseases (AORD) supplement
pharmacologic treatments with psychosocial interventions. One promising approach,
guided imagery, has been reported to have positive results in randomized controlled
trials (RCTs) and is a highly scalable treatment for those with AORD. The main purpose
of this study was to conduct a systematic review of RCTs that have examined the effects
of guided imagery on pain, function, and other outcomes such as anxiety, depression,
and quality of life in adults with AORD. Ten electronic bibliographic databases were
searched for reports of RCTs published between 1960 and 2013. Selection criteria included
adults with AORD who participated in RCTs that used guided imagery as a partial or
sole intervention strategy. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias
Assessment Instrument. Results were synthesized qualitatively. Seven studies representing
306 enrolled and 287 participants who completed the interventions met inclusion criteria.
The average age of the participants was 62.9 years (standard deviation = 12.2). All
interventions used guided imagery scripts that were delivered via audio technology.
The interventions ranged from a one-time exposure to 16 weeks in duration. Risk of
bias was low or unclear in all but one study. All studies reported statistically significant
improvements in the observed outcomes. Guided imagery appears to be beneficial for
adults with AORD. Future theory-based studies with cost-benefit analyses are warranted.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 11, 2015
Accepted:
January 28,
2015
Received in revised form:
January 28,
2015
Received:
December 31,
2014
Footnotes
GA Kelley was partially funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number U54GM104942. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Copyright
© 2015 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
