Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch

Bronwyn Thompson Clinical Senior LecturerMsc(Hons) PhD(Cant) DipOccTh(CIT)

Bronwyn Thompson has worked in the field of pain management for most of her clinical career.

Her roles have included:

occupational therapy
pain psychology
vocational management
policy development

Bronwyn has recently completed a PhD developing a theory of living well with chronic pain. She also holds a MSc (1st class hons) in Psychology from Canterbury University, and a Diploma in Occupational Therapy from CIT.

She teaches postgraduate papers in pain and pain management, with a particular focus on psychosocial factors, coping and resilience.

Professional interests

evidence-based health care
chronic pain
pain anxiety
coping rehabilitation

Student supervision

PhD Candidate: Bonnie Scarth
Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Lee Thompson, Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson
Topic: Perceptions of suffering, suicide, and physician-assisted suicide, within the concepts of "rationality", "autonomy" and "dignity".

Master's Candidate: Matt Short
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson, Dr Rex De Ryke
Topic: Ultrasound investigation of fascia tissue.

Master's Candidate: Emma Fairs
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson, Dr Jennifer Dunn
Topic: Post Registration Clinical Competency in The New Zealand Osteopathic Profession

2018

Master's Candidate: Michele Burns
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson
Topic: What happens when you go home: A phenomenological analysis of the period from discharge to first follow-up after knee replacement surgery

2017

Master's Candidate: Andrew Imrie
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson
Topic: Obstacles and facilitators to integrating psychosocial assessment in low back pain by New Zealand physiotherapists

2017

Master's Candidate: Nerissa Chapman
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson
Topic: Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders in the New Zealand Armed Forces

2016/2017

Master's Candidate: Ellise Woon
Supervisors: Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson
Topic:A New Zealand PHODA: A measure for identifying the perceived harmfulness of activities

Publications

McVicar, T., Bean, D., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2024). “It doesn’t define me”: A reflexive thematic analysis of people living well with complex regional pain syndrome [Invited]. Proceedings of the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) Annual Scientific Meeting: Empowering Pain Management in New Zealand. Retrieved from https://www.nzps2024.nz/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lennox Thompson, B., & Ramanauskas, C. (2024). Articulating occupational therapy's unique contribution to pain management. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(1), 26-32. [Commentary]. Journal - Research Other

Ray, B. M., Washington, L., Lennox Thompson, B., & Kelleran, K. (2024). An exploration of low back pain beliefs held by health care professionals in Northern America. Musculoskeletal Care, 22(1), e1877. doi: 10.1002/msc.1877 Journal - Research Article

Lennox Thompson, B. (2024). The pain battlelines. Proceedings of the In Sickness & In Health (ISIH) 8th International Conference. (pp. 68-69). doi: 10.14426/ISIH2024CHB Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Martin, R., Johns, J., Lennox Thompson, B., Hackney, J., & Nunnerley, J. (2023). A need for collaborative, early and sustained support: Listening to the lived experiences of people managing pain after SCI. Proceedings of the 62nd International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) Annual Scientific Meeting. 153. Retrieved from https://www.iscos.org.uk Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Lennox Thompson, B., & Ramanauskas, C. (2024). Articulating occupational therapy's unique contribution to pain management. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(1), 26-32. [Commentary].

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lennox Thompson, B. (2024). The pain battlelines. Proceedings of the In Sickness & In Health (ISIH) 8th International Conference. (pp. 68-69). doi: 10.14426/ISIH2024CHB

2023

Chapter in Book - Research

Lennox Thompson, B. (2023). Multidisciplinary and interprofessional working. In H. van Griensven & J. Strong (Eds.), Pain: A textbook for health professionals. (3rd ed.) (pp. 298-312). Elsevier.

Journal - Research Article

Griffiths, G. S., Thompson, B. L., Snell, D. L., & Dunn, J. A. (2023). Experiences of diagnosis and treatment for upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A qualitative analysis. Pain Medicine, 24, 1355-1363. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnad111

Journal - Research Other

Griffiths, G. S., Thompson, B. L., Snell, D. L., & Dunn, J. A. (2023). Person-centred managment of upper limb complex regional pain syndrome: An integrative review of non-pharmacological treatment. Hand Therapy, 28(1), 16-32. doi: 10.1177/17589983221138610

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Griffiths, G. S., Thompson, B. L., Snell, D. L., & Dunn, J. A. (2023, March). Experiences and diagnosis and treatment for upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2023, March). Curiosity. Workshop presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) Annual Scientific Meeting Foundations Day, Auckland, New Zealand.

2022

Journal - Research Article

Shraim, M. A., Sluka, K. A., Sterling, M., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Argoff, C., Bagraith, K. S., … Lennox Thompson, B., … Hodges, P. W. (2022). Features and methods to discriminate between mechanism-based categories of pain experienced in the musculoskeletal system: A Delphi expert consensus study. Pain, 163(9), 1812-1828. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002577

Gräper, P. J., Clark, J. R., Thompson, B. L., & Hallegraeff, J. M. (2022). Evaluating sensory profiles in nociplastic chronic low back pain: A cross-sectional validation study. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 38(10), 1508-1518. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1839987

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Griffiths, G. S., Dunn, J., Lennox Thompson, B., & Snell, D. L. (2022). Evidence for non-pharmacological treatment of upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: An integrative review. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS) and the New Zealand Society for Surgery of the Hand (NZSSH) Joint Scientific Meeting. 1503. Retrieved from http://nzapsnzssh2022.p.events4you.currinda.com

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2022, May). Occupational therapy for Long COVID. Verbal presentation at the symposium Long COVID: Journeying Together Through the Fog, [Online].

Thompson, B., Snaddon, N., Thompson, D., & Clerc-Hawke, A. (2022, March). Knowledge translation: Integrating people with lived experience as integral to pain programme development. Plenary presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) Annual Scientific Meeting, [Online].

2021

Chapter in Book - Research

Lennox Thompson, B. (2021). Whole-person clinical reasoning. In M. Erb & A. A. Schmid (Eds.), Integrative rehabilitation practice: The foundations of whole-person care for health professionals. (pp. 92-106). London, UK: Singing Dragon.

Journal - Research Article

Hudson, B., Williman, J. A., Stamp, L. K., Alchin, J. S., Hooper, G. J., Mangin, D., Lennox Thompson, B. F., & Toop, L. (2021). Nortriptyline for pain in knee osteoarthritis in general practice: A double blind randomised controlled trial. British Journal of General Practice, 71(708), e538-e546. doi: 10.3399/bjgp.2020.0797

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Sheppard, L., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2021, March). ACC community pain services survey: Where to from here for interprofessional practice? An action research session. Invited presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) Annual Scientific Meeting: Making the Connection: Cortex, Culture & Community, Waitangi, New Zealand.

2020

Chapter in Book - Research

O'Sullivan, K., Cahalan, R., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2020). The importance of sleep in dance. In R. Cahalan (Ed.), Complete Irish dancer: Optimization of health and performance in Irish dancers. (pp. 135-151). New York, NY: Nova Science.

Journal - Research Article

Lennox Thompson, B., Gage, J., & Kirk, R. (2020). Living well with chronic pain: A classical grounded theory. Disability & Rehabilitation, 42(8), 1141-1152. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1517195

Thompson, B. (2020). Growing pains: How cannabis impacts pain relief. Matters of Substance, 31(1). Retrieved from https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/matters-of-substance/august-2020/growing-pains-how-cannabis-impacts-pain-relief/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2020, February). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Workshop presentation at the San Diego Pain Summit, San Diego, USA.

2019

Chapter in Book - Research

Lennox Thompson, B. (2019). After the tango in the doorway: An autoethnography of living with persistent pain. In S. van Rysewyk (Ed.), Meanings of pain (Vol. 2): Common types of pain and language. (pp. 17-35). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-24154-4_2

Journal - Research Article

Bourke, J. A., Catherwood, V. J., Nunnerley, J., Martin, R. A., Levack, W. M. M., Thompson, B. L., & Acland, R. H. (2019). Using cannabis for pain management after spinal cord injury: A qualitative study. Spinal Cord Series & Cases, 5, 82. doi: 10.1038/s41394-019-0227-3

Swain, N., Lennox Thompson, B., Gallagher, S., Paddison, J., & Mercer, S. (2019). Gratitude Enhanced Mindfulness (GEM): A pilot study of an internet-delivered programme for self-management of pain and disability in people with arthritis. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(3), 420-426. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1627397

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Hudson, B., Toop, L., Williman, J., Hooper, G., Mangin, D., Alchin, J., Thompson, B., & Stamp, L. (2019). Nortriptyline in knee arthritis (nortika): A randomised controlled double blind trial of nortriptyline for pain in knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 71(Suppl. 10), 2758. doi: 10.1002/art.41108

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Bourke, J., Catherwood, V., Nunnerley, J., Martin, R., Lennox Thompson, B., & Acland, R. (2019, August). Using cannabis as a pain management strategy for people with spinal cord injury. Poster session presented at the 26th Australia New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZSCoS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Glass, M., Boden, J., Potiki, T., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2019, July). Legalising cannabis: Will it be wise, or why did we? Hear what the experts think. Panel discussion at the University of Otago Winter Symposium Series, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Trewin, B., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2019, March). Interprofessional teamwork: Working within and across multidisciplinary treatment teams. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Lennox Thompson, B. (2019, March). Resilience and coping with chronic pain. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society Paediatric Pain Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2018

Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Brown, M., Thompson, B., Hudson, B., Grainger, R., McKinlay, E., & Abbott, J. H. (2018). Living with osteoarthritis is a balancing act: An exploration of patients' beliefs about. BMC Rheumatology, 2, 15. doi: 10.1186/s41927-018-0023-x

Journal - Research Other

Swain, N., Parr-Brownlie, L. C., Lennox Thompson, B., Darlow, B., Mani, R., & Baxter, D. (2018). Six things you need to know about pain. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1486), 5-8. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Darlow, B., Brown, M., Lennox Thompson, B., Hudson, B., Grainger, R., McKinlay, E., & Abbott, H. (2018). Living with osteoarthritis is a balancing act: An exploration of beliefs about knee pain in people with osteoarthritis. Proceedings of the Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference. (pp. 53-54). Retrieved from https://pnz.org.nz/conference

Lennox Thompson, B., & Rutledge, B. (2018). Knowledge translation: An online community of practice case study. Proceedings of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) 17th World Congress on Pain. PSN040. Retrieved from https://www.iaspworldcongressonpain.org/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Hudson, B., Williman, J. A., Stamp, L. K., Alchin, J. S., Hooper, G. J., Mangin, D., Thompson, B. F., & Toop, L. (2018, September). Nortriptyline in knee osteoarthritis (NortIKA Study): A randomised controlled trial. Verbal presentation at the General Practice and Primary Care Research Weekend, Hanmer Springs, New Zealand.

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Darlow, B., Hudson, B., McKinlay, E., Brown, M., Thompson, B., Abbott, H., & Grainger, R. (2017). Walking a fine line (carefully): An exploration of beliefs about knee pain in people with osteoarthritis. Proceedings of the Primary Health Care and General Practice Research Weekend. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/primaryhealthcaregeneralpractice/research/

Darlow, B., Brown, M., Lennox Thompson, B., Hudson, B., Abbott, J., McKinlay, E., & Grainger, R. (2017). Walking a fine line (carefully): An exploration of beliefs about knee pain in people with osteoarthritis. Internal Medicine Journal, 47(Suppl. 2), (pp. 11). doi: 10.1111/imj.13426

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Lennox Thompson, B. (2017, November). How well do physiotherapists integrate a biopsychosocial perspective in clinical reasoning? Invited presentation at the Southern Physiotherapy Symposium 8, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Lennox Thompson, B. (2017, November). Persistent pain: What do those questionnaires mean? Using ePPOC questionnaires in daily practice. Workshop presentation at the Southern Physiotherapy Symposium 8, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Sim, A., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2017, September). Integrating BPS into a clinical environment. Workshop presentation at the Osteopathy New Zealand Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Sim, A., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2017, September). Identifying the elephants in your room: Strategies for identifying and managing psychosocial factors. Verbal presentation at the Osteopathy New Zealand Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Lagerman, P., & Lennox Thompson, B. (2017, March). Should occupational therapists and physiotherapists deliver graded exposure in pain management? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Nelson, New Zealand.

2016

Chapter in Book - Research

Lennox Thompson, B. (2016). Making sense: Regaining self-coherence. In S. van Rysewyk (Ed.), Meanings of pain. (pp. 309-324). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-49022-9_19

Lennox Thompson, B. (2016). Pain theory and models for treatment. In D. L. Thompson & M. Brooks (Eds.), Integrative pain management: Massage, movement, and mindfulness based approaches. Pencaitland, UK: Handspring.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Swain, N., Thompson, B., & Gallagher, S. (2016). The GEM self-management system for arthritis. Proceedings of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) 16th World Congress on Pain. PF0347. Retrieved from http://www.iasp-pain.org/Yokohama16/

2015

Journal - Research Article

Bhana, N., Thompson, L., Alchin, J., & Thompson, B. (2015). Patient expectations for chronic pain management. Journal of Primary Health Care, 7(2), 130-136. doi: 10.1071/HC15130

Journal - Research Other

Hudson, B., Williman, J. A., Stamp, L. K., Alchin, J. S., Hooper, G. J., Mangin, D., Thompson, B. F., & Toop, L. (2015). Nortriptyline in knee osteoarthritis (NortIKA Study): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 16, 448. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-0961-1

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lennox Thompson, B., Gage, J., & Kirk, R. (2015). Achieving self-coherence through re-occupying self: A classical grounded theory. Proceedings of the 6th Asia-Pacific Occupational Therapy (APOTC) Congress: Doing Well Together. (pp. 162). Retrieved from http://www.cmnzl.co.nz/apotc-2015/welcome/

Lennox Thompson, B. (2015). Flexibly persisting with chronic pain. Proceedings of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science Australia & New Zealand Chapter (ANZ ACBS) Conference. (pp. 23). Retrieved from http://www.anzacbsconference.com/

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Lennox Thompson, B. F. (2015). Living well with chronic pain: A classical grounded theory (PhD). University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/10282

2014

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Lennox Thompson, B. (2014). Teams in pain management. Pain News, 12(3), 176-179.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Thompson, B. (2014). Pain management in the real world. Proceedings of the 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Pain Society. Retrieved from http://www.nzps2014.org.nz/

Thompson, B. (2014). Pain, suffering and dignity. Proceedings of the 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Pain Society. Retrieved from http://www.nzps2014.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2014, September). Telephone wires of a spiderweb? Untangling the biopsychosocial model. Verbal presentation at the Osteopaths New Zealand Annual Conference: Walking & Talking Osteopathy, Taupo, New Zealand.

Darlow, B., & Thompson, B. (2014, March). How clinicians (should) influence their patients. Verbal presentation at the 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Pain Society, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2013

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Thompson, B. (2013). Chronic pain: The complex patient. Proceedings of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) Conference for General Practice: Generalism: The Heart of Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.conference.co.nz/gp13/programme/programme/index#thu

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2013, November). A bird's eye view on overseas models of pain service: New Zealand experience. Verbal presentation at the Hospital Authority Commissioned Training Programme on Pain Management: Models of Pain Service, Hong Kong.

Thompson, B. (2013, November). Living well with pain: What we can learn from people who cope well with chronic pain. Verbal presentation at the Hospital Authority Commissioned Training Programme on Pain Management: Models of Pain Service, Hong Kong.

Thompson, B. (2013, November). Reducing disability when pain intensity can't be reduced. Verbal presentation at the Hospital Authority Commissioned Training Programme on Pain Management: Models of Pain Service, Hong Kong.

Thompson, B. (2013, April). Getting on with it: A model of living well with pain. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society 38th Annual Scientific Meeting, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Thompson, B. (2013, August). Abductive reasoning. Occupational Therapy Department Seminar, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2012

Chapter in Book - Research

Thompson, B. (2012). Abductive reasoning and case formulation in complex cases. In L. Robertson (Ed.), Clinical reasoning in occupational therapy: Controversies in practice. (pp. 15-30). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Journal - Research Other

Thompson, B. (2012). Are you ready? Readiness to return to work for people living with chronic pain. Occupational Therapy Now, 14(5), 13-15.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2012, September). Using grounded theory to explore the ways people with chronic pain live well. Plenary presentation at the New Zealand Applied Neurosciences Conference (NZANC), Auckland, New Zealand.

Thompson, B. (2012, April). Quaking in my boots: Aftershocks affecting pain management. Invited presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society 37th Annual Scientific Meeting: A Head of Pain, Wellington, New Zealand.

2007

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thompson, B. (2007, August). Pain and function. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

1998

Journal - Research Article

Kendall, N. A. S., & Thompson, B. F. (1998). A pilot programme for dealing with the comorbidity of chronic pain and long-term unemployment. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 8, 5-26.