Psychiatry in Chronic Pain: A Review and Update

As the field of pain management nears the halfway point of the Congressionally declared “Decade of Pain Control and Research,” the prevalence of chronic pain and disability related thereto continue to escalate. In the context of rising costs and suffering associated with persistent pain worldwide, the chronic pain research community has increasingly recognized and investigated the role of the cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. In this paper, the authors review psychologic aspects of pain, psychopathology in chronic pain syndromes, suicidality in this population, and the use of psychotropic medications for treatment in these patients. Where possible, the authors have outlined limitations of previous research in these areas, and have highlighted and described recent studies that have addressed these perceived shortcomings. The role of the psychiatrist in the treatment of patients with chronic pain is reviewed.