Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy an Option for Managing Knee Osteoarthritis?

CBT was inferior to pharmacological treatment in a randomized trial.

For patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are better than acetaminophen or placebo for achieving pain relief and improvement of function, so despite their known long-term risks, NSAIDs are the most-prescribed medicines for such patients. Researchers wondered whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) could replace NSAIDs for managing knee OA.

Investigators used a U.S. Veterans Affairs healthcare database to identify 364 patients with knee OA who used NSAIDs on most days. Participants discontinued their current NSAIDs and were given meloxicam (15 mg daily) during a 2-week run-in period. Participants then were randomized to receive placebo or meloxicam for 4 weeks in a blinded phase. In the subse…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Jonathan S. Coblyn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory BoardCVS Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy an Option for Managing Knee Osteoarthritis?

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Reviewing Author