Shared Reading: A New Approach To Chronic Pain?

One of the traditional strategies in the treatment of chronic pain is cognitive based therapy(CBT)--that is, using the help of a psychologist to help build up coping skills and keep a positive perspective in spite of the hardships. A recent study based in the United Kingdom suggests an alternative approach: shared reading. Shared reading is an activity in which a small group of individuals gather to read aloud. The study involved reading poetry, short stories, and other literature that helped participants to recall memories and experiences of life, especially those that pertain to childhood, family, work, and other lifetime memories. The idea for this study stems from the use of this strategy for other chronic conditions such as dementia. It is thought that prompting these memories helps patients to address painful emotions that may contribute to their respective conditions.

While the results of the study are encouraging, the team who conducted the study says a larger scale study will help to examine the effectiveness of this technique. You can read more about this very interesting topic by clicking here.

Sources: Pixabay; MedicalNewsToday

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