[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46620-46621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22202]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health


Technology Assessment Conference on Integration of Behavioral and 
Relaxation Approaches Into the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia

    Notice is hereby given of the NIH Technology Assessment Conference 
on ``Integration of Behavioral and Relaxation Approaches Into the 
Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia,'' which will be held October 
16-18, 1995, in the Natcher Conference Center of the National 
Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. 
The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on October 16, at 8 a.m. on October 
17, and at 9 a.m. on October 18.
    Millions of Americans are afflicted with persistent medical 
disorders that involve behavioral and psychological components. Chronic 
pain and insomnia are two of the more common disorders with such 
involvement. Despite the acknowledged importance 

[[Page 46621]]
of psychological and behavioral factors in these disorders, treatment 
strategies have tended to focus on medical interventions such as drugs 
and surgery. The purpose of this conference is to examine the benefits 
of more consistently integrating behavioral and relaxation approaches 
with biomedical interventions in clinical settings using chronic pain 
and insomnia as examples.
    More consistent and effective integration of behavioral and 
relaxation approaches requires the development of precise definitions 
of the most frequently used techniques, which include hypnosis, 
meditation, biofeedback, and cognitive therapy. It is also necessary to 
examine how these interventions have been previously used with somatic 
therapies in the treatment of chronic pain and insomnia and to evaluate 
the efficacy of such integration to date. The conference will review 
the relative merits of specific behavioral and relaxation interventions 
as well as identify biophysical and psychological factors that might 
predict the outcome of applying these techniques. Finally, the 
conference will examine the mechanisms by which behavioral and 
relaxation approaches could lead to greater clinical efficacy.
    The conference will bring together experts in behavioral medicine, 
pain medicine, insomnia, psychology, neurology, and behavioral and 
neurosciences as well as representatives from the public.
    After 1\1/2\ days of presentations and audience discussion, an 
independent, non-Federal panel will weigh the scientific evidence and 
write a draft statement that it will present to the audience on the 
third day. The statement will address the following key questions:
     What behavioral and relaxation approaches are used for 
conditions such as chronic pain and insomnia?
     How successful are these approaches?
     How do these approaches work?
     Are there barriers to the appropriate integration of these 
approaches into health care?
     What are the significant issues for future research and 
applications?
    The primary sponsors for this conference are the NIH Office of 
Alternative Medicine and the NIH Office of Medical Applications of 
Research. The conference is cosponsored by the National Cancer 
Institute; National Institute on Aging; National Institute of Arthritis 
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; National Institute of Dental 
Research; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institute 
of Mental Health; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and 
Stroke; and National Institute of Nursing Research.
    Advance information on the conference program and conference 
registration materials may be obtained from: Laura Hazan, Technical 
Resources International, Inc., 3202 Tower Oaks Blvd., suite 200, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 770-3153.
    The technology assessment statement will be submitted for 
publication in professional journals and other publications. In 
addition, the statement will be available beginning October 18, 1995, 
from the NIH Consensus Program Information Service, P.O. Box 2577, 
Kensington, Maryland 20891, phone 1-800-NIH-OMAR (1-800-644-6627).

    Dated: August 28, 1995.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Deputy Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 95-22202 Filed 9-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M