Psychological Treatment for Patients With Chronic Pain

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the role of psychology in treating patients with chronic pain, using evidence-based therapies.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach that includes cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and chronic pain self-management, Beth D. Darnall shows mental health professionals how to use mindfulness interventions, hypnosis, and biofeedback, and also address comorbid problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Series Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. The Role of Psychological Factors in Chronic Pain
2. Standard Medical Treatments for Pain and Treatment Decision Considerations
3. Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
4. Pain-Specific Psychological Factors
5. Overview of Evidence-Based Psychobehavioral Interventions for Pain
6. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain
7. Mindfulness Interventions, Hypnosis, and Biofeedback
8. Sleep and Fatigue
9. Opioids
10. Special Populations, Substance Use, and Substance Use Disorder
11. Social Factors and Intimacy
12. Summary, Future Directions, Conclusions

Resources

References

Index

About the Author

About the Series Editor

Beth Darnall, PhD, is clinical professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University.

She is principal investigator for multiple national pain and opioid reduction research projects that test the efficacy and mechanisms of psychological treatments in individuals with acute and chronic pain. She investigates mechanisms of pain catastrophizing, targeted pain psychology treatments she has developed, online perioperative behavioral treatments she has developed to reduce postsurgical pain and opioid use, and patient-centered opioid tapering for community outpatients.

She received a presidential commendation from the American Academy of Pain Medicine and currently serves as cochair of their Behavioral Medicine Committee.

She is author of The Opioid-Free Pain Relief Kit (2016) and Less Pain, Fewer Pills: Avoid the Dangers of Prescription Opioids and Gain Control Over Chronic Pain (2014), and author of the American Pain Society book Principles of Analgesic Use (2016, 7th ed.).

She spoke at the 2018 World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland) on the psychology of pain relief, and has been featured in major media outlets, including O magazine, Forbes, Scientific American, The Washington Post, BBC Radio, Nature, and Time magazine.

• Website: Beth Darnall, PhD
• Twitter: @bethdarnall

Darnall, a leading advocate for the emerging specialty of pain psychology, once again hits it out of the park. This readily digestible guide offers a sound conceptual basis for understanding the role of psychological factors in the development and perpetuation of chronic pain and the foundational knowledge for addressing it. This book will give mental health professionals a clear path to expand their practice and improve patient care.
—Robert D. Kerns, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT

Darnall has done an exceptional job of translating the state of the art of pain science into a form that is readily understandable and immediately applicable to clinical use. She provides an intuitive introduction to the psychological treatment of chronic pain, helpful case vignettes, and a wealth of links to online multimedia resources. For the practitioner seeking an overview of current pain treatments, this book will be indispensable.
—Daniel Bruns, PsyD
Health Psychology Associates, Greeley, CO

This reader-friendly call to arms for behavioral health professionals offers practical clinical vignettes that break down the complexities of the psychosocial problems of patients with chronic pain. It provides a breadth of tools that practitioners can use to help patients better understand and manage their chronic pain.
—Steven P. Stanos, DO
Medical Director, Swedish Pain Services, and Medical Director, Occupational Medicine Services, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA