Methods of psychotherapeutic care of the patients with chronic pain syndrome. Review of literature and own study

Abstract

The article deals with the relationship between chronic pain syndrome and psychological factors – somatization and alexithymia – in terms of the biopsychosocial model and focuses on the relationship between alexithymia and increased somatization with perpetuation, intensity and disabling nature of pain. Evidence-based methods of psychotherapeutic care including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, as well as methods of biological feedback and emotional awareness and expression therapy are considered. The need to integrate psychological care into the multidisciplinary medical rehabilitation programs is substantiated in order to improve efficiency of the treatment of chronic pain syndrome.