Psychology and treatment effect interference, PART 1: It's you, not me ... and other tales of woe.

Psychological factors are always and irrevocably present in any clinician interaction with patients. They can be a help or a hinderance. When problematic, they can negatively interfere with intended treatment effects. However, they can also be present in clinicians as well. This can lead to distortions of thinking that alter our ability to properly interpret what we are doing, why, and what our results are like. Recognizing such issues is helpful in deciding what to do about them. Join me in this first part of a 2-part podcast as I discuss these aspects of psychologically informed practice and more.  

REFERENCES

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Hill JC, Whitehurst DG, Lewis M, et al. Comparison of stratified primary care management for low back pain with current best practice (STarT Back): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2011;378 (9802):1560–1571. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60937-9 [Study design flaws lead to overestimation of beneficial result.]

Rogers JS, Witt PL, Gross MT, Hacke JD, Genova PA. Simultaneous palpation of the craniosacral rate at the head and feet: intrarater and interrater reliability and rate comparisons. Phys Ther. 1998;78(11):1175-1185. doi:10.1093/ptj/78.11.1175

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