The psychology of chronic pain

Abstract

Pain is a universal phenomenon. Psychological factors influence why and how people respond to their pain and their subsequent demands for analgesia. The individual’s past experiences will shape the way that sensations are labelled as distressing or painful. Consequently, this influences how people behave when in pain and the demands they make relating to their perception of how much treatment they feel that they need. This is demonstrated in both acute and chronic pain conditions. To treat the pain without understanding these psychological factors is to misunderstand the multidimensionality of pain. Whether or not there is an identifiable physical cause for the reported pain, psychosocial and behavioural factors will influence the severity and persistence of pain and associated disability. These factors will influence response to treatment and its outcome. Therefore, when treating pain patients, healthcare providers need to take into consideration not only the physical cause of the pain, but also the needs, fears, expectations and coping strategies of the patient, as well as the responses from their family and friends.