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

Clinical Senior Lecturer

Msc(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

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

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Publications

Shraim, M. A., Sluka, K. A., Sterling, M., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Argoff, C., Bagraith, K. S., … Thompson, B. L., … 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. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002577

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

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.

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. Advance online publication. doi: 10.3399/bjgp.2020.0797

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/

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.

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

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

Chapter in Book - Research

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.

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.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Gräper, P. J., Clark, J. R., Thompson, B. L., & Hallegraeff, J. M. (2020). Evaluating sensory profiles in nociplastic chronic low back pain: A cross-sectional validation study. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1839987

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

Journal - Research Article

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

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 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 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.

Journal - Research Article

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

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

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.

Journal - Research Other

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

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

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 - 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

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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 - Published proceedings: Abstract

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 - 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/

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/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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/

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/

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/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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 - 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 - Published proceedings: Abstract

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 - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)