title: HIV/AIDS-related pain as a chronic pain condition: implications of a biopsychosocial model for comprehensive assessment and effective management.
abstract: This paper reviews the current literature focusing on pain in HIV/AIDS, including prevalence, pathophysiology, substance abuse, treatment issues, and psychosocial contributions. In light of the high prevalence of pain among individuals with HIV/AIDS, attention is paid to the negative psychosocial impacts of pain in this population and to psychosocial barriers to optimal HIV/AIDS-related pain treatment. The paper conceptualizes HIV/AIDS pain as chronic pain. Subsequently, a biopsychosocial model of chronic pain assessment and treatment is applied. A multidimensional framework is presented for appropriate assessment and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients with pain, and specific recommendations and guidelines are offered for assessment and multimodal treatment of HIV/AIDS-related pain informed by the model.
authors.affiliation: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA. Kelly.Marcus@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Breitbart