This page contains links to topics that are relevant to treating people who present with chronic pain conditions. These topics are related to fostering healing relationships within a healthcare context. You might think of this main page as a glossary or list of terminology considered important in person-centered care.
The Biopsychosocial Model
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One of the most important terms clinicians need to know when treating chronic pain is "biopsychosocial". The term is most frequently associated with a clinician-researcher, Dr. George Engel, who devised the model in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since that time, it has in various ways been used to describe the maintenance of good health and the onset and maintenence of illness. This concept is crucial for understanding how chronic pain persists despite biomedical treatments. Read more here.
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Person-centered CommunicationPerson-centered communication seems like a no-brainer when you work in a context such as healthcare. You're working directly with patients; how could that not be person-centered? Amazingly, healthcare encounters have become increasingly less person centered as the need to be efficient and transactional has been emphasized. Learn more about person-centered communication in healthcare here.
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The Nocebo Effect
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If you work in healthcare, you're likely to know what placebo effects are. But did you know that there is a similar, but opposite, effect called nocebo? It's crucial to understand this concept as you learn effective ways to communicate with patients who have chronic pain conditions. Start learning about nocebo effects here.
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