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The Context of Pain in Arthritis: Self-efficacy for Managing Pain and Other Symptoms

  • Pain Aspects of Arthritis (DA Walsh and S Kelly, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Arthritis pain may be best understood in the context of a biospychosocial model of pain. The biopsychosocial model of pain suggests that adjustment to arthritis pain is multifaceted and is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. One psychological construct that appears to be particularly helpful in understanding arthritis pain is patients’ self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms. In recent work, investigators have included self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms as key outcome measures in behavioral and psychosocial intervention studies. The goal of this article was to review recent intervention studies that have examined the effect of behavioral and psychosocial interventions on self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms. Throughout the article, we make several suggestions for future clinical and research considerations regarding the role of self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms in the context of arthritis pain.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University Medical Center, 2200W. Main Street, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    Tamara J. Somers, Anava A. Wren & Rebecca A. Shelby

Authors
  1. Tamara J. Somers
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  2. Anava A. Wren
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  3. Rebecca A. Shelby
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Correspondence to Tamara J. Somers.

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Somers, T.J., Wren, A.A. & Shelby, R.A. The Context of Pain in Arthritis: Self-efficacy for Managing Pain and Other Symptoms. Curr Pain Headache Rep 16, 502–508 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0298-3

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