How to treat a patient with chronic low back pain - methodology and results of the first international case conference of integrative medicine

Brinkhaus, Benno, Lewith, George, Rehberg, Benno, Heusser, Peter, Cummings, Mike, Michalsen, Andreas, Teut, Michael, Willich, Stefan N. and Irnich, Dominik (2011) How to treat a patient with chronic low back pain - methodology and results of the first international case conference of integrative medicine. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 19 (1), 54-62. (doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2010.11.003). (PMID:21296268)

Abstract

Background and objective: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used in patients in industrialised countries. Despite this popularity, there remains a considerable deficit of discourse and cooperation between physicians practicing CAM and conventional medicine.
The aim is to present the methodology and results of the first international case conference on integrative medicine (IM) dealing with a patient with low back pain. In this paper the methodological tool ‘‘case conference on IM’’ is also described. Methods: The interactive case conference took place on November 20th, 2009 as part of the
‘‘2nd European Congress of IM’’ in Berlin, Germany. An experienced expert panel from both conventional medicine and CAM developed integrative medical diagnoses and therapeutic strategies using as their starting point an individual patient case on chronic low back pain (LBP). The case was selected because LBP is a common diagnosis with considerable economic impact and a problem which is often treated with CAM. Results: In this case conference, the expert panel agreed on a diagnosis of ‘‘chronic non-specific
LBP with somatic and psychological factors’’ and proposed multi-modal short- and long-term treatment including of CAM. The importance of the patient—physician-relationship and the consultation process with appropriate consultation time for treatment success was highlighted.

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