OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of physiotherapist delivered psychological interventions combined with physiotherapy on pain, disability and psychological outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions. METHODS: The review was conducted in accordance with the (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials from inception to May 2016. Studies were required to compare a psychological intervention delivered by physiotherapists combined with physiotherapy to physiotherapy alone or usual care. Physiotherapists delivering the interventions must have undergone training by a psychologist or a health professional trained in the delivery of psychological interventions. RESULTS: 34 articles met the eligibility criteria, of those, 30 were suitable for meta-analysis. There was low to high quality evidence that physiotherapist delivered psychological intervention combined with physiotherapy decreased pain in the short (26 studies, MD -0.37; 95% CI -0.65 to -0.09) and long term (22 studies, MD -0.38; 95% CI -0.67 to -0.10) and decreased disability in the short term (29 studies, SMD -0.14; 95% CI -0.26 to -0.01). Effect sizes were small. Low to high quality evidence demonstrated small to medium effects for some psychological outcomes at short and long term follow-ups. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that psychological interventions delivered by physiotherapist show promise to improve health outcomes, particularly psychological outcomes, in musculoskeletal pain conditions.

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