Psychological and Behavioral Issues in the Treatment of Pain After Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury-related pain is associated with several psychosocial problems, including increased levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, anger, familial/social difficulties, and general psychosocial impairment. Treatment is often inadequate; significant numbers of patients perceive a need for additional treatment or are dissatisfied with the treatments received. The understanding of pain as a multidimensional problem that requires a biopsychosocial perspective may lead to more comprehensive and effective treatment. Psychological and behavioral considerations in treatment planning are presented. Additional research is needed, but there are indications that cognitive-behavioral therapy may be useful in the treatment of SCI-related pain, and patients are willing to use these techniques.