Psychological Approaches to Pain Management: A Practitioner's Handbook

In recent years, research on psychological factors that contribute to pain has led to the development of a number of effective pain management approaches and techniques. This practical, hands-on guide provides state-of-the-art information on the latest treatment strategies, including operant conditioning, cognitive-behavioral treatment, psychodynamic psychotherapy, biofeedback and relaxation therapy, hypnosis and imagery, group therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Filled with detailed clinical material, the text shows how to specifically tailor psychological treatment programs to patients suffering from a wide range of pain problems.

Robert J. Gatchel received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1973. Dr. Gatchel is currently Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Health Psychology. He has published 10 other books, as well as over 140 journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Gatchel is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. His primary clinical and research interests have been in the fields of health psychology and behavioral medicine, with a particular focus on the etiology, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain disability.

Dennis C. Turk is the John and Emma Bonica Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Research at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a founding member and currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the International Association for the Study of Pain and the American Pain Society. In 1993, Dr. Turk was the recipient of the Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association, Division of Health Psychology. Dr. Turk has published 9 books and over 190 journal articles and book chapters.