[Treatment of chronic pain in Switzerland: scientific evidence]

Chronic pain is often seen in the lower back region (lumbar spine). It usually influences different aspects of health and wellbeing, is often treated inadequately and causes important economic costs. Various biopsychosocial factors influence chronic pain and the outcome of medical treatment. This has lead to multidisciplinary treatment strategies. The scientific evaluation of interdisciplinary inpatient pain management programs in Switzerland shows moderate to large changes in various health dimensions in subjects with chronic non-specific back pain, fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain, and after whiplash injury. These short- to mid-term results are confirmed by international scientific evidence. The effects of an interdisciplinary pain management program are higher than those of the standard rehabilitation. Complementary, subgroup-specific pain treatment could optimize these results.