Chronic Pain Management Strategies
Summary
Chronic pain, defined as pain persisting beyond normal tissue healing time, presents a multifaceted challenge that spans physiological, psychological and social domains. Contemporary management embraces a biopsychosocial framework, integrating pharmacological agents—such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, neuropathic pain modulators and judicious opioid prescribing—with non-pharmacological approaches. Psychological therapies, including cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based practices and behavioural activation, target maladaptive pain cognitions and promote coping strategies. Physical modalities range from structured exercise and physiotherapy to neuromodulation and interventional procedures for refractory cases. Complementary therapies, for example acupuncture and chiropractic care, are often employed to supplement conventional treatments. Patient education and self-management programmes enhance self-efficacy and engagement in daily activities. Recently, digital health interventions and telehealth platforms have scaled access to evidence-based treatments, while personalised and multidisciplinary pathways strive to match interventions to individual patient profiles. This integrated model seeks to alleviate pain, restore function and improve quality of life on a global scale.
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Chronic Pain Management Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chronic pain management strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biopsychosocial model: An approach recognising interactions between biological, psychological and social factors in health and disease.
Cognitive therapy: A psychological intervention aimed at modifying unhelpful thoughts to improve coping and reduce distress.
Mindfulness meditation: A practice of focused attention and non-judgmental awareness to alter pain perception and reduce stress.
Behavioural activation: A therapy that encourages engagement in meaningful activities to counteract inactivity and improve mood.
Self-efficacy: The individual’s belief in their capacity to execute behaviours necessary to manage specific situations.
Telehealth: The delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies.
References
- The effects of telehealth-delivered mindfulness meditation, cognitive therapy, and behavioral activation for chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Medicine (2024).
- A Mind-Body Physical Activity Program for Chronic Pain With or Without a Digital Monitoring Device: Proof-of-Concept Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Formative Research (2020).
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