Universität zu Köln

Haller, Heidemarie ORCID: 0000-0001-7973-4071, Saha, Felix J., Ebner, Barbara, Kowoll, Anna, Anheyer, Dennis, Dobos, Gustav, Berger, Bettina ORCID: 0000-0003-4999-8898 and Choi, Kyung-Eun (2018). Emotional release and physical symptom improvement: a qualitative analysis of self-reported outcomes and mechanisms in patients treated with neural therapy. BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 18. LONDON: BMC. ISSN 1472-6882

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Background: Neural Therapy (NT) is a common complementary treatment approach using injections with short-acting local anesthetics to treat pain and chronic diseases. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the domains of treatment response. This study therefore analyzed patient experiences following NT injections with procaine. Methods: Maximum variation sampling was used to collect data from semi-structured interviews conducted with 22 hospital inpatients aged 59.6 +/- 14.9 years (81.8% female). Each had multiple (9.4 +/- 6.9) diagnoses. They were undergoing two weeks of integrative treatment, which included individualized NT. The interview data were analyzed in MAXQDA using qualitative content analysis. Results: With injection, patients first described local anesthetic effects including temporary blocking of pain and increased local warmth. Second, patients reported on vegetative reactions frequently leading to turmoil within the body like initial aggravation of existing symptoms or the appearance of new, concealed or phantom symptoms. This often required the need for rest to deal with the treatment stimulus. As a third step, many patients could gain physical and emotional release and relief in symptoms, mood and functioning. Emotional release was often accompanied by weeping and initially overwhelmed affected patients with dissociated memories. However, in cases where patients were able to experience those memories with a new distance, a fourth step of integration was achievable. It included reframing processes as well as a gain in pain perception and body-awareness. As a possible fifth step, patients experienced improved mood, increased pain acceptance and empowerment. Adverse events of NT included pain from the injections, vegetative complaints and emotional turmoil that lasted for minutes or hours, with a maximum of two days. Conclusions: Patients treated with procaine injections reported different psychophysiological outcomes contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying NT. Further efficacy studies should separate specific NT from non-specific/placebo effects.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Haller, Heidemarie UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-7973-4071 UNSPECIFIED Saha, Felix J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ebner, Barbara UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kowoll, Anna UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Anheyer, Dennis UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Dobos, Gustav UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Berger, Bettina UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-4999-8898 UNSPECIFIED Choi, Kyung-Eun UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-165362
DOI:	10.1186/s12906-018-2369-4
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Complement. Altern. Med.
Volume:	18
Date:	2018
Publisher:	BMC
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	1472-6882
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language LOCAL-ANESTHETICS; ADVERSE EVENTS; PAIN; LIFE Multiple languages Integrative & Complementary Medicine Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/16536