Interdisciplinary Treatment for Chronic Pain Following Workplace Injury in an Adult Male

Chronic pain poses a significant personal burden on individuals and their families, and a significant financial burden on the community. Research into the assessment and treatment of chronic pain indicates interdisciplinary approaches are most effective. This case study reports on the interdisciplinary treatment for chronic pain of a 58-year-old Anglo-Celtic Australian male who had experienced a workplace injury. The intervention was a high-intensity interdisciplinary group pain program of 90 hours duration over four weeks involving psychologists, physiotherapists, vocational rehabilitation providers and occupational therapists funded by his employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company. Individual psychological treatment for relapse prevention followed completion of the program. Risk factors evident in the development of the chronic pain for this client included high risk situations, failed treatments, new pain symptoms developing and depression. Treatment was effective in reducing the client’s anxiety regarding his pain, its interference in his activities and his depression. His self-efficacy to manage his pain particularly increased, despite his pain severity remaining the same and these gains were maintained at three-month follow-up. Given the frequent presentation of chronic pain as a comorbidity in psychology clients, psychologists are recommended to participate in and/or observe interdisciplinary group intervention for chronic pain.