Psychosocial factors and chronic pain after breast cancer surgery

Abstract

Chronic pain is one of the important factors that reduces the quality of life in breast cancer patients. With the development of biopsychosocial models of pain, the role of psychosocial factors has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. This article summarizes the latest studies concerning the psychosocial factors of breast cancer patients, reviews the psychosocial risk factors and protective factors related to chronic pain after breast cancer surgery, and introduces physiological mechanisms by which pain is closely associated with social psychology. At last, the psychotherapy currently used in clinical practice were mentioned as well. It is expected that clinicians pay more attention to the abnormal psychological condition of breast cancer patients, so as to reduce the occurrence of chronic pain and improve the overall prognosis of patients by adopting active and effective psychological interventions. Key words: Breast cancer; Chronic pain; Psychosocial; Psychotherapy