Psychologic interventions for chronic pain

As a biopsychosocial understanding of chronic pain has become more sophisticated during recent decades, a variety of psychologically based treatment approaches have been developed and empirically validated for helping people better manage their pain. These approaches to pain management have much to offer persons with chronic pain in terms of enhancing quality of life and pain-related coping, as well as reducing disability and pain-related interference with functioning. Although some treatments, like hypnotic analgesia, may require referral to a specialized provider, several of the principles of other psychologically based treatment approaches for pain management (eg, operant behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing) can easily be integrated into work with persons with pain in a rehabilitation setting. Rehabilitation providers who are interested in incorporating these treatment strategies into their clinical work who do not have prior exposure to these approaches are encouraged to review the suggested references and to seek out related training opportunities.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Box 356490, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195-6490, USA. osbornet@u.washington.edu