Premium
A three‐dimensional treatment programme for chronic pain
Author(s) -
Götestam K. Gunnar
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb06734.x
Subject(s) - chronic pain , relaxation (psychology) , psychology , set (abstract data type) , respondent , relaxation therapy , physical therapy , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , medicine , psychiatry , social psychology , computer science , political science , law , programming language
– The treatment of chronic pain contains several problems such as ineffectiveness, side effects and drug dependence. The concepts of respondent and operant pain are introduced, together with a general operant learning model for analysis and treatment of psychological problems. To make a psychological analysis of pain, evidence for learned pain behaviour must be assessed, reinforcers for treatment revealed, goal behaviours set up, and support in the environment secured. In the further analysis, account must be taken to a) time pattern of pain, b) pain behaviour, c) reactions from the environment, d) pain activators, e) pain reducers, f) the effect of tension versus relaxation on pain, and g) changes in the family structure necessary because of the pain problem. A three‐dimensional operant treatment programme for chronic pain is presented. It consists of 1) reduction of medication, 2) increase of activity, and 3) reduction of pain behaviour. Results, supporting the efficacy of the model, are presented.