Psychological Aspects of Pain, Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

This essay delves into the multifaceted nature of pain, exploring its psychological dimensions and effective management strategies. The essay begins by identifying key psychological aspects of pain, including anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, appraisal processes, perceived self-efficacy, empathy, and fear of pain. It then differentiates between acute and chronic pain, outlining specific management approaches for each. Acute pain management strategies include self-management techniques such as medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib), regular exercise, massage, and avoiding activities that strain the affected area. The essay also details the comprehensive approach to chronic pain management, starting with a thorough patient history, including psychological and spiritual evaluations, identification of potential treatment barriers, a detailed pain history, physical examination, diagnostic testing, and tailored treatment plans. The essay concludes by emphasizing the interconnectedness of pain and psychological factors and the importance of holistic, patient-centered care in pain management, referencing key studies in the field.

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Running head: HEALTH BEHAVIOR
Health Behavior
Name
Institution

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Introduction
Pain is an emotional and sensory experience which is always unpleasant. It is argued that
pain is associated with the psychological aspects of a human being (Gorczyca, Filip and
Walczak, 2013). Psychological aspects influence the perception and response of pain. This piece
of work aims at listing psychological aspects of pain and discussing approaches to the
management of both chronic and acute pain.
There are several psychological aspects of pain which are argued out by different
psychologists, sociologists, and other scholars. These psychological aspects are influenced by
pain and as well pain influences the psychological aspects (Gorczyca, Filip and Walczak, 2013).
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Pain catastrophizing
 Appraisal processes
 Perceived self-efficacy
 Empathy
 Fear of pain
Acute pain occurs within a short period of time, usually less than six months. The
management of acute pain can be done through self-management approaches which may involve
the patient on his or her own or use of drugs for relieving pain. The management of acute pain
starts with identifying the cause of the pain. Drugs can be obtained over-the-counter, either with
a doctor’s prescription or not. Some of the drugs that can be used in the management of pain
include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib (Blondell, Azadfard and

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Wisniewski, 2013). Among the drugs that are used for acute pain management, none has been
found to be outstanding in relieving pain on its own. In severe acute pain, there is, therefore, a
need to use a combination of two different drugs for acute pain management. Other self-
management interventions of acute pain include regular exercises, massaging the whole body,
and avoidance of extreme work which strains the painful part of the body.
Chronic pain is argued to take place for a period of more than six months. It can either be
continuous or may occur in bits. Chronic pain is as a result of issues such as cancer, arthritis,
deep cuts, or severe headache, just to name a few. It can occur even after a wound or a disease
has healed, implying that it can be experienced for a month, months, or even years (Reid,
Eccleston and Pillemer, 2015). The approach to the management of chronic pain starts from
obtaining a general history of the patient. This involves issues such as the assessment of the
psychological aspects of the patient and spiritual evaluation. The possible barriers which may
occur in the treatment of the patient are also identified in the first management step. A thorough
history of the pain experienced by the patient is then obtained. This helps in identifying the
possible causes of the pain and analyzing them closely. Physical examination of the patient is
then done where it involves neurologic as well as musculoskeletal evaluation. After the physical
examination, diagnostic testing is performed. This involves such diagnosis as X-rays, magnetic
resonance imaging, as well as computed tomography. After the diagnostic testing, a preferred
treatment is done depending on the part of the body and the severity of the pain (Holten and
Veasey, 2018).
Conclusion
Pain can either be acute or chronic. Pain is related to psychological aspects such as
depression, anxiety, fear of pain, catastrophizing, empathy, appraisal processes, and perceived

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self-efficacy. The approach for managing acute pain involves taking of over-the-counter
medications and engaging in daily exercises and massage. Chronic pain management involves
carrying out a general history of the patient including spiritual evaluation, psychological
assessments as well as identifying various barriers of treatment. The other steps include carrying
out a history of the pain, conducting a physical examination, performing diagnostic testing and
then dealing with the pain through various treatments.

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References
Blondell, R. D., Azadfard, M., & Wisniewski, A. M. (2013). Pharmacologic therapy for acute
pain. American family physician, 87(11).
Gorczyca, R., Filip, R., & Walczak, E. (2013). Psychological aspects of pain. Ann Agric Environ
Med, 1, 23-7.
Holten, K. B., & Veasey, G. D. (2018). Managing chronic pain: What's the best approach? New
recommendations take an interdisciplinary approach and avoid making medication the
sole focus of treatment. Journal of Family Practice, 57(12), 806-812.
Reid, M. C., Eccleston, C., & Pillemer, K. (2015). Management of chronic pain in older
adults. bmj, 350, h532.