title: An integrated psychosocial-spiritual model for cancer pain management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer pain is known to be a multidimensional and complex experience that can cause severe suffering and can lessen quality of life. The psychosocial and spiritual aspects of cancer pain play an important role in this phenomenon. This article describes a multidisciplinary model for cancer pain management that focuses on the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of cancer pain and the needs of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multidisciplinary model has been organized to provide the most effective pain management to a variety of patients within a comprehensive cancer center. Our model includes multiple oncology mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, spiritual care providers, and psychiatrists. Each discipline provides a unique assessment and an evaluation of the needs of patients with cancer pain and their support system that is integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan. Regular collaboration occurs between disciplines to ensure that the patients receive optimal pain management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This model provides a framework from which treatment interventions can be implemented. The emphasis on consistent collaboration between disciplines is a vital component in providing effective cancer pain management. This multidisciplinary psychosocial-spiritual model can be replicated, modified, or both, to become standard practice in other comprehensive cancer centers.
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center, Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine Department, Duarte, California 91010-3000, USA.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otis-Green
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Reverend Pamela
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012067:Religion