Chronic pain: psychological approaches for the front-line clinician

Many of the techniques and skills the average front-line practitioner possesses (such as intake, psychological testing, cognitive behavior therapy, and relaxation therapy) can be readily and effectively applied to a chronic-pain population. More specialized techniques for pain reduction, such as biofeedback training, can be easily learned by the generalist clinician with a minimum of additional training. In this article, four general steps to assess and reduce chronic pain are reviewed. Through careful use of the available research literature, and by consulting with a colleague who has expertise in chronic pain, most psychologists can straightforwardly begin to help individuals suffering from chronic pain.