Abstract
Psychologists have had an important impact on the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain. Their contributions have been in the areas of emotional distress, behavioral limitations, cognitive mediating events, and psychosocial disruption of chronic pain. These foci have enabled them to clarify the multidimensional nature of chronic pain and to support the biopsychosocial framework as a conceptual guide for research and clinical purposes. Clinically, along with members of an interdisciplinary team, psychologists have a key role in the assessment and treatment of patients with chronic pain. Interdisciplinary collaboration allows the team to recognize important interactions between biomedical and psychosocial dimensions and to appreciate a broader conceptualization of patients' problems. The literature documents strong empirical support for operant-behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies for the treatment of chronic pain. On the other hand, although widely accepted from a clinical perspective, the use of motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement therapies is more recent and less well documented for use with patients with chronic pain.
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Novy, D.M. Invited Special Review: Psychological Approaches for Managing Chronic Pain. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 26, 279–288 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000045343.08494.34
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000045343.08494.34