Current evidence does not support the routine use of cognitive behavioural therapy in total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review.

Background: There is a significant dissatisfaction rate in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and poor mental health in patients is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to dissatisfaction. The aim was to review the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in improving pain and functional outcomes of patients undergoing TKA and highlight important aspects that may be crucial for improvement.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Studies were included if they were randomized control trials that included patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral TKA, with CBT as an intervention compared against usual care, and reported outcomes in pain, knee function and any psychological outcomes as measured.

Results: Eight RCTs were selected which included 683 participants. The timings of CBT delivery, profiles of therapists, and outcome measures reported varied across the studies. Overall, 3 studies reported significant improvement in pain outcomes, 3 studies reported significant improvement in functional outcomes and 5 studies reported significant improvements in psychological outcomes.

Conclusion: Current evidence does not support the efficacy of CBT as current literature is too heterogenous. Further studies with homogenous CBT methods are required to further ascertain the true relationship between CBT and postoperative outcomes of TKA. Future studies should consider the points set out in this review, such as the importance of revisiting CBTskills, providing individualized therapy, having a supervisory team to support the fidelity of interventions, and identifying which group of patients would best benefit from CBT.