Psychological factors are important contributors to the intensity of
pain and to the disability associated with chronic pain. Pain and stress
are intimately related. There may be a vicious cycle in which pain causes
stress, and stress, in turn, causes more pain. Mind/body approaches address
these issues and provide a variety of benefits, including a greater sense of
control, improved coping skills, decreased pain intensity and distress,
changes in the way pain is perceived and understood, and increased sense
of well being and relaxation. These approaches may be very valuable for
adults and children with pain (Rusy, 2000).
For pain specialists, the therapies that are psychological, or focused
on the relationship between mind and body, are considered mainstream;
for many others in the health professions, and for the public at large,
the same therapies might be considered complementary/alternative. The
evidence in support of these approaches is very strong and how they are
labeled is less important than their acceptance as necessary treatments.
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