A classification system of cognitive coping strategies for pain

Cognitive strategies have received considerable interest in pain management, alongside the traditional approaches of physical intervention and behavior modification. However, the literature on these strategies is ridden with inconsistencies of terminology that present major difficulties in the conceptualization and evaluation of different strategies. A new classification scheme is hence proposed in which these strategies are grouped into 3 broad categories: imagery, self-statements and attention-diversion--which are further divided into a total of 10 subcategories. Examples are drawn from the literature to illustrate the use of each strategy. The new classification system offers a comprehensive nomenclature for the identification of cognitive coping strategies for pain and provides a basis for guiding research on the relative efficacy of different cognitive strategies in pain management.