Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to the Treatment of Pain

How can cognitive-behavioral therapy benefit patients with persistent pain? The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches to persistent pain. The review is divided into four sections. In the first section, we describe the conceptual back ground for cognitive-behavioral approaches to pain. In the second section, we describe the basic elements of a typical cognitive-behavioral treatment protocol used in pain management. In the third section, we address questions that health care professionals frequently ask about cognitive - behavioral treatment. In the fourth section, we discuss new clinical applications of cognitive-behavioral treatment.