A two-path model to pain education for psychologists providing health services.

Abstract

The combination of widespread chronic pain and opioid use constitutes one of the largest public health crises in U.S. history. Since the emergence of behavioral medicine, psychologists have worked to mitigate pain-related distress and impairment and improve quality of life among those with diverse medical conditions. Consequently, pain psychology has emerged as a clinical specialty. Despite this growth, key issues related to interprofessional communication, a lack of standardized education, and complex ethical environments limit many psychologists from aiding more prevalently in the current epidemic. There is debate whether this gap would be best met through increased pain training for all health service psychologists or through increased opportunities for specialization. Using a competencybased approach, this article proposes a two-path solution for pain education which acknowledges the distinct professional needs among psychologists. The optimization of pain education and training is a crucial first step toward preparing a new generation of psychologists to be biopsychosocial health care providers, no matter where they work. Clinical Impact StatementDespite the increasing public burden of chronic pain and opioid use, most providers report that psychological pain management remains at the fringe of their competency. By optimizing pain education at the university level and beyond, psychologists will be better equipped to serve those with pain conditions, whether they choose to specialize or not.