Psychological approaches in pain management: what works?

Outcome studies evaluating psychological treatments for pain vary in nature and intensity. Overall, however, treatment programs that include psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in treating postoperative pain, noncardiac chest pain, fibromyalgia syndrome, and chronic back pain. Cost analyses of the treatments indicate not only the clinical efficacy but the cost-effectiveness of psychological interventions. Issues related to subject attrition, noncompliance, and individual differences in treatment response should be addressed in future studies.