Effective pain management requires an objective self-assessment of the location, kind and severity of the discomfort experienced. Under certain circumstances, a truly objective self-assessment is not possible because underlying mental, emotional or psychological factors may cause pain sensation.
This type of physical discomfort, called psychogenic pain, is common in hypochondriacs. Hypochondria is a serious mental disorder experienced by men and women who believe that they are suffering from a medical illness. The psychosomatic effects of hypochondria can cause the sensation of lower-back pain, headaches or stomach pain. If that’s the case, how do healthcare providers help a patient who experiences pain when there is no physical or medical evidence for its existence?
In a new article published in this month’s edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Harvard University found that hypochondriacs treated with cognitive-behavior therapy reported significantly less low back pain than those not receiving it. By focusing on how people think and behave, psychotherapists use cognitive-behavior therapy to break a cycle of non-productive thinking and self-defeating actions.
Given the benefits to the patient, should hypochondriacs experiencing pain be enrolled in CBT sessions? Although additional studies will be needed to confirm these results, there may be strong potential for combining pain-relieving medications and CBT. This combination of treatment options may finally offer hypochondriacs an effective pain management option, and help uncover how medically unexplainable pain can be effectively treated in the clinic.
If you experience any of the symptoms associated with hypochondria, and are experiencing pain, please contact The New York Pain Management Group or visit one of our offices. We would be pleased to advise you on the many options related to managing your pain.
*DISCLAIMER: These are not medical diagnoses or suggestions for any specific individuals. They are an overview of various conditions, treatments and topics discussed by New York Pain Management Group. If you would like to discuss your symptoms in greater detail, do not hesitate to contact the New York Pain Management Group. To learn more about treatment options for this and other pain conditions, contact us today at www.nopainny.com or call at 1-888-789-NOPAIN! We will be happy to assist you.