Achtsame Schmerztherapie

Background

The in part promising, in part discrepant efficacy of psychological treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain indicates a demand for interdisciplinary assessment and corresponding treatment structures with differentiated degrees of psychological and syndrome-specific specialization within a multimodal orthopedic context. Acceptance of pain and psychological flexibility are strongly related to physical impairments caused by pain.

Objective

Goals are improved outcomes of medical and physical treatment measures as well as their flexible implementation in daily life through a differentially indicated psychological pain therapy focusing on pain acceptance and mindfulness.

Methods

This study employed the “active not doing and generating inner silence” exercise from mindful-based pain therapy (“Achtsamkeitsbasierte Schmerztherapie”, ABST).

Results

Pure observation of a problem without an attempt to solve it is unusual and strange. Prerequisites for such exercises are willingness to engage as well as courage and openness.

Conclusion

A differentiated indication for clinical psychological treatment or psychotherapy of pain—a highly specialized form of psychological pain therapy—should be based on the diagnostic criterium of pain acceptance.