Is It Really All in Your Head? New Study Says Chronic Pain Is, And That's How You're Helped

How many of us have been told it's all in our heads when it comes to chronic pain?  Now a new study ays that's exactly where it is.  And where it can be cured.

 According to newswise.com, psychologists play a primary role in chronic pain treatment.

 When it comes to chronic pain, psychological interventions often provide more relief than prescription drugs or surgery without the risk of side effects, but are used much less frequently than traditional medical treatments, the Web site reports.

 "Chronic pain affects 116 million American adults, making it more prevalent than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined, and traditional medical approaches are inadequate," newswise quotes Mark P. Jensen, PhD, of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington, and lead author. 

 That's why it's so important to get the treatment -- and get it right -- as soon as possible.  

 Successful treatment approaches for chronic pain include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness and hypnosis. But the study also found that psychologists do more than help patients with chronic pain retrain their brains.  They can also address racial and ethnic disparities in the assessment and treatment of chronic pain, persistent pain in older adults and family influences on children's chronic pain, while serving as the lead on interdisciplinary chronic pain management, coordinating services and therapies. 

 "The more we learn, the more the field of chronic pain treatment recognizes the critical contribution of psychologists," said Jensen. "This may be due to the fact that psychologists' expertise about the brain, behavior and their interaction is at the heart of both the problem of and the solution to chronic pain."

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