Occupational Therapy and the Patient with Pain

Abstract

The characteristics, implications, consequences and costs of pain, particularly those of chronic benign pain syndrome, are presented, and current approaches to treatment are briefly discussed. Contributions which occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to offer are described. Occupational therapists are grounded in the concept that mind, body and spirit are integrally related and that the patient must participate actively in the planning and implementation of any treatment program. The occupational therapist is a specialist in role functions and is skilled in assisting clients to plan and re-create structure for their lives that has been lost by virtue of their illness, disability, or pain. The occupational therapist provides an environmental laboratory in which people can experiment with new behaviors and attitudes to restructure and regain control of their lives and to reestablish hope, competence, confidence and success as part of their daily activities. These concepts are basic to the successful treatment of the patient with chronic benign pain syndrome.