Psychological Approaches to Pain Management: A Practitioner's Handbook [Hardcover]

Robert J. Gatchel PhD (Editor), Dennis C. Turk PhD (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0898622921 | ISBN-13: 978-0898622928

In recent years, research on psychological factors that contribute to pain has led to the development of a number of effective pain management approaches and techniques. This practical, hands-on guide provides state-of-the-art information on the latest treatment strategies, including operant conditioning, cognitive-behavioral treatment, psychodynamic psychotherapy, biofeedback and relaxation therapy, hypnosis and imagery, group therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Filled with detailed clinical material, the text shows how to specifically tailor psychological treatment programs to patients suffering from a wide range of pain problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a comprehensive, substantive, and readable presentation of psychological treatment interventions with pain patients. Extensive references are provided throughout...any clinician who deals with pain will find it relevant for undergraduate and graduate students, it is a basic text." --Nicholas E. Stratas, MD (private practice), Readings

"Despite our best efforts to understand its causes and cures, pain continues to challenge, even frustrate both patient and practitioner. The biopsychosocial complexity of pain requires consideration and care from disciplines ranging from surgery to counseling. Practitioners all along this multidisciplinary spectrum will be helped by this handbook, whether they seek technical instruction, theoretical background, or guidance in consultation." --Rowland G. Hazard, M.D., Associate Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Vermont; Director of Rehabilitation Services, Spine Institute of New England

"This is a marvelous book. It provides excellent descriptions and evaluations of the psychological approaches to pain management. First-rate practitioner-researchers examine all the major approaches to pain management, including psychodynamic therapy, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, group therapy, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. The chapters on controlling pain in children and in the elderly are particularly valuable. So are the chapters on strategies for the prevention of chronic pain and occupational rehabilitation. This book is clearly 'a practitioner's handbook,' and practitioners will be grateful to have so much valuable information at hand in a single volume. The editors have provided a sensible sequence of chapters that follow logically and helpfully. The book is well-written throughout. The reader who peruses it will find valuable, interesting information on almost every page." --Ronald Melzack, Ph.D., McGill University

"This text will be an invaluable resource for anyone who treats patients in pain. Its comprehensive inclusion of practical approaches to the psychological issues in pain will keep this handbook from collecting dust on any shelf."

"The most comprehensive book on psychological issues and their management in pain. It is very apparent that the experts are talking here. This handbook is full of practical, well-defined therapeutic recommendations that can be incorporated directly into the practice of pain management. The inclusion of special topics such as pain in children and the elderly, motivating patient change, prevention of chronic pain dysfunction, occupational injuries and outcome research will make this book an essential resource for years to come." --Margaret A. Caudill, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, author of Managing Pain Before it Manages You

"This well-referenced book is 'must reading' for psychologists and counselors who work with patients with pain. Filled with practical guidelines and case examples, it presents clearly the major types of psychological interventions as they apply to different populations with pain. It is refreshing and illuminating to read how experts in pain management apply their scientific knowledge to deal with the common day-to-day problems presented by this difficult patient population. This text will benefit both beginners and seasoned veterans in the field of pain management." --Stanley L. Chapman, Ph.D., Center for Pain Medicine, Dept of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine

About the Author

Robert J. Gatchel received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1973. Dr. Gatchel is currently Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Health Psychology. He has published 10 other books, as well as over 140 journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Gatchel is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. His primary clinical and research interests have been in the fields of health psychology and behavioral medicine, with a particular focus on the etiology, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain disability.

Dennis C. Turk is the John and Emma Bonica Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Research at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a founding member and currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the International Association for the Study of Pain and the American Pain Society. In 1993, Dr. Turk was the recipient of the Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association, Division of Health Psychology. Dr. Turk has published 9 books and over 190 journal articles and book chapters.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 519 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press (March 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898622921
• ISBN-13: 978-0898622928
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,618,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a clear and comprehensive practical guide, June 8, 2000

By 

Kimeron Hardin, Ph.D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psychological Approaches to Pain Management: A Practitioner's Handbook (Hardcover)

As a psychologist who specializes in working with people with chronic pain, I have waited years for a comprehensive book that could answer my basic questions about strategies for effective pain management. This is the book. I have used it both clinically and as a reference for my own writing and teaching. The book is very well-written, not too technical and maintains a high standard for the information included. Every attempt has been made to validate recommended approaches with solid research and suggestions with limited or mixed research results are clearly indicated. The authors have selected an outstanding mix of contributors, each recognized as experts and authorities in the field.