Table 2.

Characteristics of trials included in systematic review

Paper	Study	Country	Surgical population	Participants (completed), n	Age (years)	Male	Intervention	Comparison	Outcomes
T1	Abbott et al22	Sweden	Adult (age 18–65 years) lumbar fusion patients	107 (3 months, n=101; 6 months, n=101; 1 year, n=99, 2–3 years, n=87)	Mean PMT 50.3 (SD 10) Mean UC 51 (SD 10.9)	38.3%	PMT Description: UC supplemented with CBT-informed physiotherapy intervention (ie, PMT) including behavioral self-management, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, and motivational interviewing Timing: 90-minute PMT sessions delivered by physiotherapists at 3, 6, and 9 weeks PO	UC Description: physiotherapist-instructed inpatient exercise-therapy program and 20-minute exercise instruction at discharge Timing: daily exercises with physiotherapist PO, days 1–5 20-minute physiotherapist instruction of 12-week exercise plan at discharge	Primary: disability Secondary: back-pain intensity over past week Outcomes assessed as change in scores from baseline
T2	Archer et al24	USA	Adult (age ≥21 years) laminectomy patients	86 (80)	Mean 57.6 (SD 12.2)	44.2%	CBPT Description: six weekly 30-minute telephone-based CBPT sessions Consisted of behavioral self-management, problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation training + education program (see comparison) Timing: started 6 weeks PO	Education Description: education program consisting of physical therapy, stress management, sleep hygiene, energy management, communication with health providers, injury prevention Timing: started 6 weeks PO	Primary: pain intensity and interference (BPI), disability (ODI) Secondary: mobility (five-chair-stand test, timed up- and-go test, 10 m walk test Outcomes assessed as change in scores from baseline
T3	Doering et al25	USA	Adult cardiac surgery patients with major or minor depression at discharge (on SCID-I)	53 (limited to completers) CBT, n=33; UC, n=20	Mean 67.8 (SD 9.2)	83.1%	CBT Description: eight weekly 1-hour manualized, nurse-delivered CBT sessions Timing: median time from surgery (in ITT sample) to CBT or UC 45.5 days (IQR 26.25 days)	UC Description: (included patients from secondary analysis comparing UC followed by CBT to early-CBT group) Timing: median time from surgery (in ITT sample) to CBT or UC 45.5 days (IQR 26.25 days)	Secondary (primary reported in 2013 paper): pain severity and interference (BPI-SF)
T4	Monticone et al23	Italy	Adult (age ≥18 years) patients recovering from lumbar spinal fusion	130 (117)	Mean CBT/exercise 58.9 (SD 11.8) Mean exercise 55.9 (SD 14.2)	39.2%	CBT + exercise Description: two 1-hour psychologist-delivered individual CBT sessions per week over 4 weeks (total of eight CBT sessions) targeting catastrophizing and kinesophobia, in addition to exercise program Timing: two 1-hour sessions per week for 4 weeks Start date of intervention (ie, duration since surgery) not listed	Exercise Description: five 90-minute physiotherapist-led exercise sessions per week for 4 weeks (total of 20 exercise sessions)	Primary: disability (ODI) Secondary: pain severity (0–10 NRS), SF-36-BP Outcomes assessed as change in scores from baseline
T5	Rolving et al27	Denmark	Adult (age 18–64 years) lumbar spinal fusion patients	96 (90) CBT, n=59 UC, n=31	Range 18–64 Mean CBT 51.4 (SD 9.2) Mean UC 47.7 (SD 8.9)	43.3%	CBT Description: four 3-hour group-CBT sessions in addition to UC Timing: CBT and information delivered preoperatively	UC Description: information on operation, anesthesia, medication, PO rehab, physical restrictions after surgery Timing: information delivered preoperatively	Secondary (primary reported in 2015 paper): median severity of back pain during first PO week (measured daily on 0–10 NRS); consumption of rescue analgesics during first PO week; PO mobility (first 3 days measured on CAS)
T6	Rolving et al26	Denmark	Adult (age 18–64 years) lumbar spinal fusion patients	96 (90 baseline, 87 at 3- and 6-month FU, 83 at 1-year FU)	Mean CBT 51.4 (SD 9.2) Mean UC 47.7 (SD 8.9)	43.3%	CBT Description: six 3-hour group-CBT sessions in addition to UC protocol Timing: four sessions preoperatively, two PO	UC Description: information and rehab Timing: information delivered preoperatively, rehabilitation programming delivered 12 weeks PO and included 8 weeks of supervised exercise	Primary: disability (ODI) Secondary: low-back PRS; all outcomes measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year PO Outcomes assessed as change in scores from baseline

Abbreviations: BPI, Brief Pain Inventory; BPI-SF, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form; CAS, cumulated ambulation score; CBPT, cognitive behavior-based physical therapy; CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy; ITT, intent to treat; NRS, numeric rating scale; ODI, Oswestry Disability Index; PMT, psychomotor therapy; PO, postoperative(ly); PRS, Pain Rating Scale; SCID-I, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV – Axis I; SF-36-BP, Short Form 36 – body pain; UC, usual care.