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| Research article summary (published 30 May 2007): |
Empathy and the failure to treat pain.
Full Abstract
We set out to discuss the psychological barriers that exist in the treatment of pain. Specifically, we argue that clinicians have several innate mechanisms at play that can hinder their judgment and lead to erroneous assumptions about their patients. Issues are discussed from social psychological and psychodynamic perspectives. A focus is placed on the issue of empathy and how this, too, can act as a barrier to rational judgment when evaluating patients. In the face of growing scrutiny on pain management in the United States, it is important to understand the barriers to providing care that already exist on an intrinsic level. Through the exploration of these barriers, clinicians might be better able to reflect on their own practice. Ultimately, we hope to push forward an agenda of rational therapy in pain management that utilizes safeguards against abuse and addiction while also preserving treatment modalities for patients in need of services.
Author information
Author/s: Passik, Steven D (SD); Byers, Karen (K); Kirsh, Kenneth L (KL);
Affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Palliative & supportive care (Palliat Support Care), published in England. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2007-Jun; vol 5 (issue 2) : pp 167-72
Dates: Created 2007/06/20; Completed 2007/07/19;
PMID: 17578068, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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