Physiotherapy and combined cognitive-behavioural therapy for patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome: results of a non-randomised controlled feasibility trial

Objective To explore feasibility in terms of delivering and evaluating a combination of physiotherapy and psychotherapy for patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Design Prospective non-randomised controlled pilot study. Setting Tertiary care facility with a specialised interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for patients with CPPS. Participants A total of 311 patients was approached; 60 participated. 36 patients were included in the intervention group (mean age +/- SD 48.6 years +/- 14.8; 52.8% female) and 24 in the control group (mean age +/- SD 50.6 years +/- 14.5; 58.3% female). Fourteen participants were lost to follow-up. Interventions Participants were non-randomly allocated to the intervention group with two consecutive treatment modules (physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy) with a duration of 9 weeks each or to the control group (treatment as usual). Main outcome measures Feasibility was operationalised in terms of delivering and evaluating the therapeutic combination. Regarding eligibility as the first aspect of feasibility, willingness to participate, dropout and satisfaction were assessed; for the second aspect, standardised self-report questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life, depression severity and pain were applied. Results Although eligibility and willingness-to-participate rates were low, satisfaction of the participants in the intervention group was high and dropout rates were low. Results indicated a small and non-significant intervention effect in health-related quality of life and significant effects regarding depression severity and pain. Conclusions The combination of physiotherapy and psychotherapy for patients with CPPS seems to be feasible and potentially promising with regard to effect. However, a subsequent fully powered randomised controlled trial is needed.