Exposure in Vivo as a Treatment Approach to Target Pain-Related Fear: Theory and New Insights From Research and Clinical Practice.

Marlies den HollanderRob J E M SmeetsThijs van MeulenbroekCharlotte C M van Laake-GeelenVera A BaadjouInge Timmers

Published in: Physical therapy (2022)

For patients with chronic pain who have elevated pain-related fear (PRF), exposure is the treatment of choice. This Perspective highlights the inhibitory learning approach, summarizes mechanistic work from experimental psychology and neuroimaging regarding PRF in chronic pain, and describes possible clinical applications of EXP in chronic secondary pain as well as in primary care.

Keyphrases

chronic pain
pain management
primary care
clinical practice
neuropathic pain
drug induced
smoking cessation
postoperative pain