Psychological Therapy
Experiencing Pain
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- Psychological Therapy
- Pain can mean different things to the person experiencing it and to the doctor being consulted. Pain tends to interrupt a person’s thoughts and actions and to dominate their attention.
- Many patients’ have insufficient or unhelpful information about what the pain is, and/or perceive it as a serious threat, and are unable to cope with it.
- Patients may feel that their doctor does not understand their pain, or has not appreciated their problems, and are less likely to accept and adhere to treatment if they feel is not helpful.
- Often patients’ attempts to cope with their pain will be undermined by concerns that they may be making their condition and therefore their pain worse.
- Psychological techniques in chronic pain
- Biofeedback
- Diverting or competing stimuli can improve pain levels during the biofeedback procedure and during intervals afterwards.
- The basic pain biofeedback system is a demonstration to the patient, of the effect of internal emotional states on global physiological functions. Example: skin resistance, pulse, respiratory pattern, EEG; and focal processes, that is, electromyography [EMG] activity in regions of pain.
- Studies of several conditions have demonstrated the positive effects of this approach, usually combined with other physical therapy modalities.
- Virtual Reality Biofeedback in Chronic Pain and Psychiatry.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive behavioural approaches aim to improve the way that an individual manages and copes with their pain.
- The approach is very much related to problem solving and returning control to the sufferer.
- Many patients state that the pain rules their lives and cannot see how this can change without a medical cure. However, with appropriate instruction in a range of pacing techniques, cognitive therapy to help identify negative thinking patterns and the development of effective challenges, stretching and exercising to improve physical function, careful planning of tasks and daily activities, and the judicious use of relaxation training, many people find the treatment enables them to take back control of their lives.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
- Counselling (Professional Confidential Support)
- Our Counselling Service is tailored to meet the needs of each patient.
- The service is run by experienced and qualified Counsellors specialising in individual counselling for patients with painful conditions.
- What can Counselling offer?
- Finding new ways to look at long-term pain problems
- Coping with irreversible or chronic medical conditions
- Dealing with the impact of illness on the entire family
- Assessing situations and finding appropriate solutions
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (has pop-ups).
- Coping Strategies
- Professionals who treat chronic back pain recognize it is not merely a sensation, but is strongly influenced by the ways in which the brain processes pain signals.
- There are a number of techniques including relaxation training, hypnosis, biofeedback and guided imagery. Techniques for coping with long-term pain make use of four types of skills:
- Deep Muscle Relaxation.
- Distraction- moving your attention away from pain signals.
- Imagery - visual, sound or other pictures and thoughts that are pleasant and relaxing to you.
- Dissociation - the ability to separate normally connected mental processes, leading to feelings of detachment and distance from the pain.
- Effective coping strategies for chronic back pain.
- Functional Restoration Programmes
- Functional Restoration Programmes are run on an outpatient basis and aim to teach the pain sufferer a number techniques and skills to manage their pain more effectively.
- Functional Restoration Programmes are delivered using a multi-disciplinary approach, including Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapy Practitioners.
- This also includes a large element of passive and active rehabilitation including exercises and aerobic conditioning.
- Pain Management Programmes (PMP)
- A Pain Management Programme (PMP) is a psychologically-based rehabilitative treatment for people with chronic pain which remains unresolved by other treatments currently available.
- It is delivered in a group setting by an interdisciplinary team of experienced health care professionals working closely with patients.
- The aim of PMPs is to reduce the disability and distress caused by persistent pain by teaching physical, psychological and practical techniques to improve quality of life.
- It differs from other treatments provided in Pain Clinics in that pain relief is not the primary goal, although improvements in pain following participation in a Pain Management Programme have been demonstrated.
- The British Pain Socitey: Pain Management Programmes.
- Directory of Pain Management Programmes (UK) (PDF download).
- Relaxation Techniques
- Relaxation techniques are helpful for coping with stress and chronic pain. Relaxation techniques entail refocusing attention, increasing body awareness and gentle exercises.
- Relaxation Techniques.
You can find useful links to further information on all aspects of pain treatment in links and resources and via the list of conditions we treat.
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