ABSTRACT
The field of pain medicine has shifted from multidisciplinary rehabilitation to procedure-focused interventional pain medicine
(IPM). Considerable controversy exists regarding the efficacy of IPM and its more narrow focus on nociception as an exclusive
target of pain treatment. This topical review aims to examine pain research and treatment outcome studies that support a biopsychosocial
model of pain, and to critique the clinical practice of IPM given its departure from the premises of a biopsychosocial model.
A modern definition of pain and findings from clinical and basic science studies indicate that pain-related psychological
factors are integral to pain perception. The clinical viability of IPM is challenged based upon its biomedical view of peripheral
nociception as a primary source of pain and the potential of this viewpoint to foster maladaptive pain attributions and discourage
the use of pain coping strategies among chronic pain patients. IPM should adopt a biopsychosocial perspective on pain and
operate within a framework of multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation to improve its effectiveness.
(IPM). Considerable controversy exists regarding the efficacy of IPM and its more narrow focus on nociception as an exclusive
target of pain treatment. This topical review aims to examine pain research and treatment outcome studies that support a biopsychosocial
model of pain, and to critique the clinical practice of IPM given its departure from the premises of a biopsychosocial model.
A modern definition of pain and findings from clinical and basic science studies indicate that pain-related psychological
factors are integral to pain perception. The clinical viability of IPM is challenged based upon its biomedical view of peripheral
nociception as a primary source of pain and the potential of this viewpoint to foster maladaptive pain attributions and discourage
the use of pain coping strategies among chronic pain patients. IPM should adopt a biopsychosocial perspective on pain and
operate within a framework of multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation to improve its effectiveness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Essay/Opinion Piece
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s13142-011-0090-7
- Authors
- Randy S Roth, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health System, 325 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
- Michael E Geisser, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health System, 325 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
- David A Williams, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Journal Translational Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1613-9860
- Print ISSN 1869-6716