130 patients who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar spondylothesis or lumbar spinal stenosis were randomized to a postoperative rehabilitation program of either combined exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), or exercise alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate if a 4 week program of CBT offered benefits to patients in terms of disability, pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophising, and quality of life. The results indicated that CBT and exercise did, in fact, significantly improve all self-reported outcomes at 4 weeks (posttreatment) and 1 year when compared to exercise alone.