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Psychiatry and Pain Management: at the Intersection of Chronic Pain and Mental Health

  • Complex Medical-Psychiatric Issues (MB Riba, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic pain impacts millions of people in the USA. At the heart of the problem of chronic pain remains the complex psychosocial aspects associated with living with chronic pain. Given the overlap between chronic pain and mental health, a promising treatment approach is to improve how we integrate psychiatry into pain management.

Recent Findings

Treatment of chronic pain and comorbid mental health issues requires a multidisciplinary approach. Advancements in how pain is understood, especially centralized pain, have helped inform both pharmacological and behavioral interventions for pain. Given the growing concerns about the opioid epidemic and the lack of data supporting the use of opioids for long-term pain management, new treatment approaches are needed. Psychiatrist may be uniquely suited to help address comorbid mental health disorders and addiction in the context of chronic pain management.

Summary

Addressing the psychiatric needs of chronic pain patients remains challenging and there is much room to improve how we address the complex issues associated with living with chronic pain. We believe psychiatrists are an important piece of the pain management puzzle.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Back & Pain Center, University of Michigan, Burlington Building 1, Suite 100, 325 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA

    Jenna Goesling

  2. Department of Psychiatry, North Campus Research Complex, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Lewei A. Lin

  3. Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, North Campus Research Complex, VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Lewei A. Lin

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, Domino’s Farms, Lobby M, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr, PO Box 385, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Daniel J. Clauw

Authors
  1. Jenna Goesling
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  2. Lewei A. Lin
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  3. Daniel J. Clauw
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Correspondence to Jenna Goesling.

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Conflict of Interest

Jenna Goesling and Lewei A. Lin declare that they have no conflict of interest. Daniel J. Clauw has received grants and personal fees from Aptinyx, Cerephex, and Pfizer, Inc., and personal fees from Abbott Pharmaceutical, Astellas Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Pierre Fabre, Samumed, Theravance, Tonix, Williams & Connolly LLP, and Zynerba.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Goesling, J., Lin, L.A. & Clauw, D.J. Psychiatry and Pain Management: at the Intersection of Chronic Pain and Mental Health. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 12 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0872-4

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