Chronic Non-Malignant Pain and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Abstract

For patients who experience chronic non-malignant pain, opioid prescriptions have been steadily increasing despite questionable efficacy, safety concerns, and economic implications. Some types of pain are clearly identified and treated effectively while others persist and cause not just unwanted physiological changes, but psychological and cognitive effects as well. Positive and negative correlations have been seen in cognitive behavioral therapy and its effects on outpatient adjunct treatments in patients with chronic non-malignant pain. To ease the burden in economic crisis and humanitarian suffering it is important for the community to approach the problem in a multidisciplinary way. Alternative treatments from costly procedures should be considered such as counseling, self-care facilitation, and other forms of cognitive behavioral therapy that can help improve quality of life (Institute of Medicine, n.d.). This project addressed the current community need in managing patients with chronic non-malignant pain and maladaptive thinking or behaviors at the AdventHealth University Hope Clinic. A qualitative study was performed by interviewing key players and identifying barriers and facilitators to determine the feasibility of developing cognitive behavioral therapy as an adjunct treatment for patients within the AdventHealth University Hope Clinic with chronic non-malignant pain. In conclusion, a CBT program is feasible within the AdventHealth Hope Clinic based on the resources currently available as well as the facilitators identified during our qualitative analysis. However, barriers that were identified should be addressed, facilitators pursued, and a pilot study should be performed.

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Keywords

chronic non-malignant pain, cognitive behavioral therapy, opioid use, feasibility study

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