National Pain Foundation Spotlights Test Author

The National Pain Foundation (NPF) recently spotlighted J. Mark Disorbio, EdD, on its public educational website, www.NationalPainFoundation.org. The NPF website is “an online education and support community for persons in pain, their families and physicians; a source for treatment options and pain information that is peer reviewed by leading pain specialists.” The site offers forums and helps patients under stand that they are not alone in their pain and that help is available. Physicians are invited to encourage their patients to explore the website. It can help patients prepare for their doctor visits.

Disorbio, together with co-author Daniel Bruns, PsyD, developed assessment tools to help evaluate psychological factors that can impede treatment for chronic pain. “Pain medicine starts with assessment,” Disorbio is quoted on the NPF website. “Assessment helps determine what treatments will be the most effective, whether an individual is responding normally to pain, and helps clinicians get a better idea about an individual’s risk for depression, anxiety, and family problems.”

Disorbio also authored an article in the My Education section of the NPF website entitled “Psychological Factors Related to Pain,” which can be found at www.NationalPainFoundation.org/cm/CMDisplayArticle.asp?ArticleId=149. The article explores the links between pain and psychological factors. Disorbio outlines the ways various psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, job dissatisfaction, doctor dissatisfaction, family dysfunction, or anger relate to pain. He notes that pain erodes one’s psycho logical defenses as well as one’s level of energy. He explains that these psychological factors increase arousal and response to pain and impede treatment.

In his article, Disorbio also discusses the range of treatments for pain management that are psychological in nature. For example, biofeedback training and hypnosis are often used to reduce pain. “Thought Stopping” is a technique that helps reduce fearful thoughts, which create physical tightening of the muscles, which in turn increases pain.

According to Disorbio, by learning to control their reactions to anxiety, tension, and depression, patients can better manage their pain, increase their functioning, and become directly involved to help with the healing process. These techniques help chronic pain patients regain some control over their lives by becoming active participants in the treatment and solution to their pain condition.

Disorbio is a nationally recognized expert in understanding the psychological factors related to chronic pain conditions and co-author of the BHI™ (Battery for Health Improvement), BBHI™ 2 (Brief Battery for Health Improvement 2) and BHI™ 2 (Battery for Health Improvement 2) tests. Disorbio is a licensed clinical psychologist and president of Integrated Therapies in Lakewood, CO, a multidisciplinary treatment facility for chronic pain patients.

Visit the National Pain Foundation’s website to read the spotlight article about Disorbio at www.NationalPainFoundation.org/MyEducation/Spotlight_Disorbio.asp and the article written by Disorbio.

Contact us at (888) 627-7271 to discuss how psychological assessments can help you in your practice.

To request a print copy of this article and the complete newsletter, please call 1-888-627-7271 and reference F12W03.

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