The Evolution And Early Results Of The Psychologist's Role In The Inpatient Pain Service

Abstract

Psychologists have a well-established role in managing chronic pain in outpatient settings, but their function within the IPS is less clear and infrequently assessed. We outline the results of the first service evaluation and the creation of a psychologist position within the team. Methods: One day a week, after a preliminary needs assessment, a band 8c psychologist joined the IPS to provide short, one-on-one psychological interventions to hospitalized patients with acute or chronic pain who were referred by the inpatient pain team. Members of the inpatient pain team received training, supervision, and support from the psychologist in an indirect capacity. In terms of direct patient work, a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach was used after psychometric screening for pain-related disability and distress. This included identifying unhelpful beliefs about pain, psychoeducation about acute and persistent pain, creating and sharing formulations, skills training, such as breathing and relaxation exercises, and, when appropriate, directing patients to an outpatient chronic pain service for additional pain self-management guidance. to investigate this direct intervention's effects.

Conclusions: By providing quick direct and indirect psychological interventions, the psychologist developed into a useful member of the multidisciplinary IPS team. Despite being a relatively small sample, the results of our prospective service evaluation indicate that short-term psychological interventions may help patients who are experiencing pain-related distress in hospitals stay shorter and be admitted less frequently.