Few trials of interdisciplinary selleck products approaches have been conducted in a chronic WAD group, and these approaches have been varied, from physiotherapists delivering psychological-type interventions in addition to physiotherapy to psychological interventions alone. In their systematic review, Teasell et al56
concluded that although the majority of studies suggest that interdisciplinary interventions are beneficial, it is difficult to formulate conclusions given the heterogeneity of the interventions. Since that review, additional trials have investigated psychological approaches for chronic WAD. Dunne and colleagues12 showed that trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapy provided to individuals with chronic WAD and post-traumatic stress disorder led to decreased psychological symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, as well as decreased pain-related disability. Although preliminary, the results of this study suggest that psychological interventions may be useful to improve
not only psychological selleck chemicals llc symptoms, but also pain-related disability. From a clinical perspective, some individuals with WAD will report various psychological symptoms, particularly those with an already chronic condition. Psychological symptoms may be related to pain, for example, pain catastrophising, pain-related fear, pain coping strategies and other symptoms related to the traumatic event itself (road traffic crash), such as
post-traumatic stress symptoms or post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, there is emerging evidence that feelings of injustice associated with the accident or compensation system72 may also be present. Such factors will need to be evaluated in the clinical assessment of patients with WAD (see Table 2). If confident, the physiotherapist may then decide to manage them as part of their treatment plan or to initiate appropriate referral. This may be to the patient’s general practitioner or a clinical psychologist for further assessment of the psychological symptoms. The decision to already refer or not can be made via relevant questionnaires, with high scores indicating referral may be necessary and psychologically informed physiotherapy treatment for more moderate scores, but with reassessment and referral if no improvement is made. An important aim for the treatment of acute WAD is the identification of people at risk of poor recovery, and to then prevent the development of chronic pain and disability. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence available to guide the clinician to achieve this goal, and this is frustrating for clinicians and researchers alike. Whilst there is now much better understanding of the characteristics of the condition and factors predictive of poor recovery, much less progress has been made in the development of improved and effective interventions.