Pain can have profound psychological effects, including feelings of hopelessness, anger, sadness and even despair. These feelings can interfere with an individual’s ability to perform their job or their normal activities. Pain tends to interrupt a person’s thoughts and actions and to dominate their attention. Individuals may become isolated as they feel that others do not understand their problem or have not appreciated their problem.

Many people have insufficient or unhelpful information about what the pain is and/or perceive it as a serious threat. They may also be unable to cope with the pain. Psychological therapy can help individuals cope with the effects of the pain on themselves as well as on those around them. There are also specific psychological techniques that can help to reduce pain.

Chronic pain is a complex health issue. While the person suffers the disabling symptoms, its burden extends to the whole of society. In Australia, the burden of musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., back pain and osteoarthritis) – the most common reason for chronic pain – exceeds that of all other chronic conditions.

Did you know that musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain and osteoarthritis, are among the leading causes of chronic pain and disability worldwide, outranking other conditions including major depression, diabetes and heart disease? While the estimated cost of these conditions to the Australian economy in 2012 was frightening enough (more than $A55 billion  in direct costs, which include treatments such as X-rays, medications and physical therapy, and indirect such as those derived from loss of health or quality of life, such as reduced work productivity, at the individual and family level there are immeasurable costs.

Chronic pain is currently conceptualised within a bio-psychosocial model. This concept means its experience is influenced by physical, psychological (mood and beliefs) and social (relationships, environment and culture) factors.

Unfortunately, it’s estimated that less than 10% of patients with chronic pain receive coordinated multidisciplinary care (involving a team of specialists, which could include a physiotherapist, neurologist and psychologist) to target the multiple drivers of pain.  Unfortunately, lack of effective treatments is related to increased burden, including poorer physical and psychological well-being.

Pain Management may include the following psychological therapies:

• Individual and group counselling
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Relaxation techniques
• Hypnosis and self-hypnosis
• Visual imaging
• Mindfulness techniques