What is spinal cord stimulation? Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a surgical treatment option for patients with chronic pain. Since the inception of SCS in 1971, research and advances in technology have established spinal cord stimulation as an effective method of treating various manifestations of pain. How many patients use spinal cord stimulation? A majority …
What is a dorsal rhizotomy, what does it treat, and what is its mechanism of action? Dorsal rhizotomy is an ablative technique designed to reduce spasticity, particularly in children with cerebral palsy. It works by eliminating a pathologically hyperactive reflex arc between sensory and motor fibers from the same muscle group. How is a dorsal …
What are neuroablative procedures and some pain-associated conditions that are treated by neuroablative procedures? Neuroablative procedures are destructive procedures that are used to interrupt the transmission of pathological pain pathways. Pain-associated conditions that can be treated with neuroablative procedures include cancer pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and spasticity. Given the permanency of these procedures in contrast to …
What are the objectives of psychotherapeutic treatment? The objectives of psychotherapeutic treatment are tailored to the referral requests and patient emotional and physical needs. All treatments strive to enhance quality of life through improved emotional and physical functioning, and include the following goals: a. Improve adjustment and management of the pain condition. b. Alleviate emotional distress. c. Increase …
What is the concept of multimodal psychotherapy? Multimodal psychotherapy (developed by Lazarus) asserts that psychological problems are multifaceted and result from interactive processes. Accordingly, patients should be assessed and treated with consideration of seven dimensions or modalities of the human experience. Known by their acronym, BASIC ID, the modalities include: behavior, affect, sensation, imagery, cognition, …
What are the ethical issues involved in providing psychotherapy for pain populations? Patients who are referred for pain psychology evaluation and treatment by their health care practitioner may not appreciate that the referring party will confer with the mental health professional about their psychological condition. The way in which information is communicated needs to be …
ethical issues involved in providing psychotherapy for pain Read More »
Difference between a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist? Psychiatrists are physicians who have attended medical school and had extensive training specific to the psychological and biological mechanisms involved in mental health. As physicians, they are licensed to prescribe medications to treat mental disorders and can also provide psychotherapy. Many studies have demonstrated that psychiatric medications alone …
Difference between a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist Read More »