Psychological Interventions for Chronic Pain: Reviewed within the Context of Goal Pursuit

Abstract

SUMMARY In contemporary psychological interventions for chronic pain, cognitive-behavioral therapy takes a central role, covering a broad range of techniques and aims. To improve the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and to refine its components, new theoretical approaches may help understand and arrange the mechanisms underlying pain perception, behavior and suffering. This article reviews processes of change in cognitive-behavioral therapies for chronic pain within the context of goal pursuit. Treatments are viewed from the perspective of the action phase model of goal attainment. With this model in mind, a distinction is made between goal ‘intentions‘ and their ‘realization‘. In addition, recent research findings on goal pursuit in the context of (chronic) pain are reviewed, with a special emphasis on their implications for clinical practice.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The condtribution of J Vlaeyen and M Schrooten was supported by the NWO Social Sciences Research Council of The Netherlands, Grant No. 453–04–003 (JV) and by the Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium, FWO), Odysseus Grant (JV). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The contribution of J Vlaeyen and M Schrooten was supported by the NWO Social Sciences Research Council of The Netherlands, Grant No. 453–04–003 (JV) and by the Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium, FWO), Odysseus Grant (JV). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.