[Evaluation of operant methods in the treatment of chronic pain]

This article considers the principles of operant/social learning theory in the treatment of chronic pain. The authors emphasize the necessity of treating acute and chronic pain as two different conditions. They evaluate studies of behavioural treatment of chronic pain from the last decade, and conclude that although behavioural treatment of chronic pain seems effective, such conclusions are, in some cases, based on studies that are not methodologically sound.