pain

When patients find their pain unacceptable they are likely to attempt to avoid it at all costs and seek readily available interventions to reduce or eliminate it. These efforts may not be in their best interest if the consequences include no reductions in pain and many missed opportunities for more satisfying and productive functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine acceptance of pain.

Research and treatment of chronic pain over the past 20 or more years have tended to focus on patient coping as the primary behavioral contribution to adjustment. The purpose of the present study was to compare a coping approach to chronic pain with a different behavioral approach referred to as acceptance of chronic pain. These approaches were compared in terms of their ability to predict distress and disability in a sample of patients seeking treatment for chronic pain.

Research and treatment of chronic pain over the past 20 or more years have tended to focus on patient coping as the primary behavioral contribution to adjustment. The purpose of the present study was to compare a coping approach to chronic pain with a different behavioral approach referred to as acceptance of chronic pain. These approaches were compared in terms of their ability to predict distress and disability in a sample of patients seeking treatment for chronic pain.

Much of the behavior of chronic pain sufferers happens in social contexts where social influences can play a role in their suffering and disability. Researchers have investigated relations of social responses with verbal and overt pain behavior and, more recently, with patient thinking, such as catastrophizing. There has not yet been a study of social influences on patient acceptance of chronic pain.

Much of the behavior of chronic pain sufferers happens in social contexts where social influences can play a role in their suffering and disability. Researchers have investigated relations of social responses with verbal and overt pain behavior and, more recently, with patient thinking, such as catastrophizing. There has not yet been a study of social influences on patient acceptance of chronic pain.

Clinical experience and research show that patients with chronic pain who have a more accepting attitude about their pain experience less distress and function better as compared to those with chronic pain who do not have this attitude. Because this idea has only recently received some empirical scrutiny, the meaning of acceptance and methods for assessing it in relation to chronic pain have not been firmly established.

Clinical experience and research show that patients with chronic pain who have a more accepting attitude about their pain experience less distress and function better as compared to those with chronic pain who do not have this attitude. Because this idea has only recently received some empirical scrutiny, the meaning of acceptance and methods for assessing it in relation to chronic pain have not been firmly established.

The concept of acceptance is receiving increased attention as an alternate approach to the suffering that is often associated with persistent and disabling pain. This approach differs from established treatments in that it does not principally focus on reducing pain, but on reducing the distressing and disabling influences of pain as they concern important areas in patients’ lives.