Pain curricular guidelines for Psychologists in Brazil

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is widely recognized that pain is undertreated, largely determined by the minimal academic training on the subject. This article aims to propose and present curricular guidelines in pain for undergraduate and graduate psychologists in Brazil. CONTENTS: From an extensive literature review about education and pain, and based on national and international guidelines, curricular guidelines that contemplate the psychologist's education have been developed. The skills and competencies addressed in the training of the psychologist should contemplate their multifactorial nature, the importance of multidimensional evaluation, theoretical and technical models for interventions and management of the painful condition and aspects related to research and ethical aspects. CONCLUSION: The contents proposed in the pain curriculum for psychologists can and should be integrated considering the regional characteristics and demands of the educational institutions and the availability of qualified professionals to teach and can be applied both to undergraduate and graduate courses. It is believed that having curricular guidelines to teach this subject not only broadens the psychologist's understanding of the health-disease process, but also increases their professional possibilities to perform their roles in multi, inter and transdisciplinary healthcare levels.

Chronic migraine patients have low level of knowledge about pain neurophysiology

“…The International Association for the Study of Pain has already developed a proposal for an interprofessional and intraprofessional pain curriculum for health care providers 24 . In Brazil, current physical therapy and psychology courses have curricular guidelines for the study of pain 25,26 . For patients, the implementation of these curricula in the graduation of professionals who will aid their painful conditions represents better management, consequently, this patient will suffer less and have their painful condition treated more adequately.…”

"Prevalence and Profile of Pain and Catastrophic Thinking in Workers of a Health Care Provider"

“…Recently, Lima, et al [3] pointed out that administrative work, due to their working conditions, such as inadequate postures in front of the workplace, activities said to be repetitive and long periods in section, can cause the worker to present pain and/or musculoskeletal disorders inherent to the position occupied. The presence of pain can influence aspects that go beyond the physical, being able to shake the psychological conditions of workers [4]. Catastrophic thoughts, or the act of "catastrophizing pain", refers to the negative and exaggerated interpretation of an unpleasant experience, whether it is painful, real or expected [5].…”

Characteristics of multidimensional pain in women with breast cancer treated at a referral hospital: a cross-sectional study

“…Another study evaluated pain intensity in 160 patients with advanced breast cancer in an Indonesian hospital using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and found low x scores (2.1 ± 2.4) that indicate reasonable control of physical pain in this sample 8 . Considering that the pain impact on each patient is related and reflects in its multidimensionality 9 , the concept of total pain includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects 9 . Physical pain is an unpleasant sensory experience, recognized as the most obvious cause of suffering 10 , emotional or psychological pain refers to the fear of suffering and death, involves feelings of sadness, anger, rage, insecurity, despair, depression, repercussions in mood changes and hopelessness 5,10 .…”