Marital and family issues in patients with chronic pain. A review

This paper attempt to review the relevant literature pertaining to the family issues in chronic pain. To begin with, a rationale is developed for adopting a family approach to the understanding of physical and psychosomatic disorders. Pain literature is examined to demonstrate the significance of family factors in the etiology, perpetuation and treatment of chronic pain. Overall research in this entire field remains somewhat weak and thus the findings are of a tentative nature. On the other hand, the clinical significance of family factors in chronic pain are critical and cannot be ignored. The need for better designed research in this field is of utmost importance.