Cited by 176Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPain Management and TreatmentMindfulness and Compassion Interventions

Psychological Interventions for the Treatment of Chronic Pain in Adults

Driscoll, Mary A., Edwards, Robert R., Becker, William C., Kaptchuk, Ted J., Kerns, Robert D.·2021·Psychological Science in the Public Interest

Abstract

The high prevalence and societal burden of chronic pain, its undertreatment, and disparities in its management have contributed to the acknowledgment of chronic pain as a serious public-health concern. The concurrent opioid epidemic, and increasing concern about overreliance on opioid therapy despite evidence of limited benefit and serious harms, has heightened attention to this problem. The biopsychosocial model has emerged as the primary conceptual framework for understanding the complex experience of chronic pain and for informing models of care. The prominence of psychological processes as risk and resilience factors in this model has prompted extensive study of psychological treatments designed to alter processes that underlie or significantly contribute to pain, distress, or disability among adults with chronic pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is acknowledged to have strong evidence of effectiveness; other psychological approaches, including acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, hypnosis, and emotional-awareness and expression therapy, have also garnered varying degrees of evidence across multiple pain conditions. Mechanistic studies have identified multiple pathways by which these treatments may reduce the intensity and impact of pain. Despite the growing evidence for and appreciation of these approaches, several barriers limit their uptake at the level of organizations, providers, and patients. Innovative methods for delivering psychological interventions and other research, practice, and policy initiatives hold promise for overcoming these barriers. Additional scientific knowledge and practice gaps remain to be addressed to optimize the reach and effectiveness of these interventions, including tailoring to address individual differences, concurrently addressing co-occurring disorders, and incorporating other optimization strategies.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/15291006211008157

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296 of 296 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Driscoll, M. A., Edwards, R. R., Becker, W. C., Kaptchuk, T. J., & Kerns, R. D.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Driscoll, Mary A.
Venue
Psychological Science in the Public Interest
Published
2021-09
Volume
22
Issue
2
Pages
52-95
ISSN
  • 1539-6053 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-1006
OpenAlex
W3201156766
Cited by
176
References
296
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 1
FWCI
11.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Gothic.net (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
u.s. department of veterans affairs
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Keywords
chronic pain, psychological intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, hypnosis, biopsychosocial model, opioid overuse, barriers to treatment uptake, treatment tailoring, co-occurring disorders, pain-related disability
MeSH terms
Psychosocial Intervention, Adult, Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Chronic Pain, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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