ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025
Pain Neuroscience Education Reduces Pain and Improves Psychological Variables but Does Not Induce Plastic Changes Measured by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Pain neuroscience education for the management of chronic pain in elite volleyball players with chronic shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionPNE, focusing on cognitive aspects, aims to change patients' beliefs about pain. However, it is unclear if these cognitive changes are sufficient to influence other components such as neuroplastic changes.
objectiveTo assess whether 3-h pain neuroscience education (PNE) can induce changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and pain intensity in chronic pain patients.
methodsA double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 66 participants aged 18-65 years old (50.86 ± 8.61) with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving 3-h PNE lecture and a control group that received an educational booklet. Primary outcomes included plasma BDNF levels and perceived pain intensity (VAS). Secondary outcomes included anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D), catastrophizing (PCS), kinesiophobia (TSK), stress (PSS), and knowledge about pain. Measurements were taken in both groups before and after a three-hour intervention. Data were analyzed using paired
resultsThe results showed no significant changes in BDNF levels for the PNE lecture group (
conclusionsPNE did not significantly change BDNF levels but effectively improved pain intensity, pain-related knowledge, and other clinical variables. These findings suggest that while PNE has cognitive benefits, it may not be sufficient to induce immediate neurobiological changes. Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and incorporate additional therapeutic domains.
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