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Chronic pain assessment from bench to bedside: lessons along the translation continuum

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Translational Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

The first step to providing effective healthcare is accurate assessment and diagnosis. The importance of accurate assessment is particularly important for chronic pain, given its subjective and multidimensional nature. The purpose of the current review is to discuss the dilemma of chronic pain assessment within a translational framework. First, assessment issues specific to chronic pain will be introduced along the entire continuum of translational activities. Important barriers along the continuum include inconsistent measurement of pain, possibly inaccurate preclinical models, and other practical limitations such as time, cost, and training. Second, the review will highlight promising areas worth further consideration in research and practice to bridge some of the gaps that currently impede effective chronic pain assessment and care. Specifically, consideration will be given to observational, biological, and technology-driven measures of chronic pain.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Sandra Gramling, Micheal Southam-Gerow, and Victoria Schivy in their assistance in reviewing the contents of the manuscript and providing invaluable feedback. I must also acknowledge the unending support from my wife, Crystal Jensen.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA

    Bryan Jensen MS

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The current review involved no direct involvement from human subjects. All procedures followed were conducted in accordance with ethical standards and guidelines set out by Virginia Commonwealth Universities Institutional Review Board.

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Jensen, B. Chronic pain assessment from bench to bedside: lessons along the translation continuum. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 6, 596–604 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-015-0370-8

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