New directions in pain assessment and treatment

Psychological and behavioral methods have played an active role in shaping current approaches to the assessment and treatment of pain. This article assumes familiarity with the more traditional forms of psychological intervention for pain and reviews the developments of the past 3-5 years. The pain assessment section focuses on epidemiological approaches to chronic pain, objective measures of pain behavior, analysis of social and emotional factors, and analysis of cognitive factors affecting pain. The treatment section of the article focuses on early intervention for chronic pain, pain management in children, and cognitive-behavioral treatments for arthritis pain. Each section concludes with comments and potential directions for the future. © 1989.

Duke Scholars

Author Francis Joseph Keefe Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...