• Bruce D Naliboff, Stephen M Wu, and Quynh Pham.
• Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, UCLA Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women's Health, and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA, USA. naliboff@ucla.edu
• J Clin Psychol. 2006 Nov 1; 62 (11): 1397-408.

AbstractThis article considers assessment and treatment issues for mental health practitioners working with patients using opiate medications to treat chronic pain with a particular emphasis on their potential relationship to substance abuse. We review general opiate medications, including a discussion of medications with increased addiction potential. Practice guidance is offered regarding long-term opiate treatment, including definitions of addiction, initial assessments, ongoing substance misuse monitoring, use of psychological assessment instruments, and managing medication misuse problems. Additionally, we examine the role of the mental health professional within this area and examine the incorporation of psychological interventions for patients using opiates. A case illustration includes several of these complicated issues of managing chronic pain with opiate medications.

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