Behavioral medicine approaches to pain
Akiko Okifuji1, Stacy Ackerlind
1Pain Research and Management Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, 615 Arapeen Drive, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. akiko.okifuji@hsc.utah.edu
Anesthesiology Clinics
|December 7, 2007
Summary
Behavioral medicine offers key strategies for managing complex pain experiences. This approach, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, aids in successful pain treatment when pain is the primary medical concern.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Pain is a complex and individual experience.
- Effective pain management requires understanding multiple contributing factors.
- Behavioral medicine is crucial in interdisciplinary pain care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of behavioral medicine approaches for pain.
- To highlight assessment and therapeutic methods in pain management.
- To focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of behavioral medicine principles and practices.
- Discussion of assessment techniques for pain patients.
- Examination of therapeutic interventions, including CBT and MET.
Main Results:
- Behavioral medicine offers a structured framework for pain assessment.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) are effective behavioral interventions.
- These therapies address psychological and behavioral aspects of pain.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral medicine is integral to comprehensive pain management.
- Understanding and applying behavioral approaches can improve treatment outcomes.
- CBT and MET are valuable tools for clinicians treating pain patients.
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