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Psychological aspects of chronic pain
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|November 1, 1977
Summary
Physicians should diagnose and treat underlying pathology rather than solely relieve pain. Effective chronic pain management involves antidepressants, physical therapy, and behavioral modification, alongside a strong doctor-patient relationship.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
Background:
- Physician's primary role is diagnosing and treating pathology, not solely pain relief.
- Psychological factors significantly complicate organic pain assessment.
- Diagnosing psychogenic pain solely via psychological tests is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for managing acute and chronic pain.
- To emphasize the importance of addressing psychological factors in pain management.
- To highlight the critical role of the doctor-patient relationship in managing difficult pain cases.
Main Methods:
- Review of pharmacological interventions for acute and chronic pain.
- Discussion of non-pharmacological pain management modalities.
- Emphasis on psychological assessment and behavioral approaches.
Main Results:
- Anti-anxiety agents are effective for acute pain.
- Antidepressants are more suitable for chronic pain management.
- Continuing anxiolytics beyond the acute phase may worsen depression.
Conclusions:
- Chronic pain management requires a multimodal approach including antidepressants, physical therapy, TENS, scheduled analgesics, and behavior modification.
- Addressing psychological components is crucial for effective pain treatment.
- A clear doctor-patient agreement is essential for managing challenging pain patients.