Pain

Pain is simultaneously a sensation and an emotion, and is by far the leading reason people seek health care. While most acute pain resolves successfully over time, treatment of chronic pain is more complicated, since these patients have a substantially compromised quality of life. A wide range of psychological interventions have been used successfully to help people deal with pain, including biofeedback, relaxation, hypnosis, cognitive and behavioral coping skills. In combination with physical and drug treatment, psychological intervention has proven effective for pain sufferers across the age span.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology