title: Psychiatry in chronic pain: a review and update.
abstract: As the field of pain management nears the halfway point of the Congressionally declared "Decade of Pain Control and Research," the prevalence of chronic pain and disability related thereto continue to escalate. In the context of rising costs and suffering associated with persistent pain worldwide, the chronic pain research community has increasingly recognized and investigated the role of the cognitive and affective dimensions of pain. In this paper, the authors review psychologic aspects of pain, psychopathology in chronic pain syndromes, suicidality in this population, and the use of psychotropic medications for treatment in these patients. Where possible, the authors have outlined limitations of previous research in these areas, and have highlighted and described recent studies that have addressed these perceived shortcomings. The role of the psychiatrist in the treatment of patients with chronic pain is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 1101 Beacon Street Brookline, MA 02446, USA. john_sharp@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keefe
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents