The Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway is recruiting patients with back pain to take part in a programme which offers patients the opportunity to avail of 10 sessions with a clinical psychologist trained in pain rehabilitation.

The sessions, which are free of charge, will focus on active rehabilitation, instruction in a range of pacing techniques, cognitive therapy to help identify negative thinking patterns and the development of effective challenges, and stretching and exercising to improve physical function, according to the Centre.

The Pain Disability Prevention Programme (PDP) study, funded by the HSE, will take place in counties Galway, Dublin, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Limerick and Cork. GPs and physiotherapists in these counties are being encouraged to refer suitable patients to the study.

Miriam Raftery, Researcher at the Centre for Pain Research, NUI Galway said: "We know that a combination of psychological and physical therapies provided at the early stages of back pain are beneficial, particularly for people at risk of long term disability."

However, she pointed out that this type of service is often only accessible via specialised hospital-based pain management teams. " In this trial we will offer this type of service to people locally and at the earlier stages of injury."

"Many people find that a combination of cognitive and physical rehabilitation like the PDP programme enables them to take back control of their lives, to do more and feel better. By trialling this early intervention programme we can assess if this type of service is beneficial for people with chronic pain."

Patients can access physiotherapy and all medical services as usual while involved in the trial.

The researchers are specifically interested in hearing from people who have back pain for no longer than 12 months and are either off work or on reduced work hours due to pain.

For further information, please contact Miriam Raftery, Centre for Pain Research, NUI Galway, email - miriam.raftery@nuigalway.ie , phone 091 495 830, or see the dedicated website www.nuigalway.ie/pdp

GPs interested in referring suitable patients to the trial can also contact the number above.