Health

Difference between short term and long term psychotherapy? Manualized treatments are usually considered short-term, as they may consist of a specified number of therapy sessions. These treatments generally focus on one or two problem areas and not global personality functioning. Both short-term and long-term psychotherapies focus on the reduction of emotional (e.g., stress) and social …

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How to determine a patient’s suitability for a particular type of psychotherapy? Several considerations are made in determining patient suitability for a particular type of psychotherapy. Ideally evidence-based treatments that are tailored for pain populations should be considered. Other considerations focus on the patient’s primary presenting complaints and psychiatric diagnosis, level of insight and motivation, …

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What types of psychological treatments are available for chronic pain treatment? Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), emotionally focused therapy (EFT), somatic experiencing psychotherapy (SE), and psychodynamic psychotherapy (PDT) have shown effectiveness in treating chronic pain populations. These modalities can be provided in the settings of individual therapy, group …

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Causes of cognitive impairment How common is cognitive impairment among pain populations, and what are some of the causes? Decrements in cognitive functioning are common among pain populations, although the severity varies greatly by the type of pain condition, developmental stage of the patient, types of treatments they have received, and their age and gender. …

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How common is substance misuse pharmaceutical overuse, and dependence among pain populations? Prescription misuse and substance dependence has been described as an epidemic in some nations and has sparked considerable debate on how to best use these agents for management of pain conditions. Subsequently, substance abuse poses challenges in the treatment of pain. When medications …

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What is the benefit of psychotherapy provided as part of a multidisciplinary team? Pain is best conceptualized and treated using the biopsychosocial model of care. Multiple life domains are influenced by emotional functioning and psychosocial factors. Thus psychotherapy as part of a multidisciplinary team targets an important aspect in treating a complex condition. Psychotherapy can …

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How can presurgical psychological screening be helpful for medical practitioners? Emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social factors contribute considerably to treatment outcomes, and the pain experience varies greatly among individuals with even the same pain conditions. Presurgical psychological evaluations can optimize treatment outcomes and are an essential component of the medical decision when determining patient eligibility …

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