All patients with chronic pancreatitis will be considered for participation in this study. Patients selected for participation will be evaluated 4 weeks prior to the first one-on-one therapy session. A baseline pain score will be assessed using the visual analog pain scale. Narcotic dosage and frequency as well as anti-emetic usage will be evaluated at this time. A pre-treatment quality of life score will be recorded using the SF-12® Patient Questionnaire. Patients will also be queried about the presence of nausea and reflux.
After the pre-intervention evaluations are complete, patients will be randomized into one of two arms: treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy and narcotics as needed or treatment with conventional narcotic analgesics alone. Patients undergoing CBT intervention will participate in eight weekly therapy sessions. Follow-up assessments will be conducted six months and nine months after the last therapy session is completed. The patients will be evaluated based on pain score, narcotic dosage and frequency, anti-emetic usage, quality of life assessment, and pain related hospitalizations.
