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Medical Perspectives of Psychological Management of Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient

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Comprehensive Pain Management in the Rehabilitation Patient

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Abstract

This chapter gives a brief summary of psychological treatments for pain, within the rubric of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment paradigm across a variety of rehabilitation diagnoses. The strong impact of psychosocial factors on chronic pain in particular is emphasized, including the importance of understanding pain behaviors in a social context. The theoretical basis behind psychological management is reviewed, with a background discussion involving some of the predominant psychological approaches used today. This chapter includes a discussion of operant conditioning theory, biofeedback, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, mindfulness-based techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an all-encompassing approach to psychological treatment or “talk therapy,” embraces the concept of cognitive restructuring of maladaptive pain beliefs. The goal is self-management and increased pain coping skills with appropriate counseling. With psychological management, the pain sufferer may be able to improve tolerance to and suffering from pain, respond better to treatments, and have an improved outlook on how pain affects one’s life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Jennifer Kurz M.D. (Instructor)

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  1. Jennifer Kurz M.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, USA

    Alexios Carayannopoulos DO, MPH

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Kurz, J. (2017). Medical Perspectives of Psychological Management of Pain in the Rehabilitation Patient. In: Carayannopoulos DO, MPH, A. (eds) Comprehensive Pain Management in the Rehabilitation Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16784-8_42

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16784-8_42

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16783-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16784-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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