General hospital psychiatry
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Gen Hosp Psychiatry · May 2009
Review Meta AnalysisPharmacotherapy of chronic pain: a synthesis of recommendations from systematic reviews.
Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent, costly and disabling conditions in both clinical practice and the workplace, yet often remains inadequately treated. Moreover, chronic pain commonly co-occurs with depression, anxiety and somatoform disorders, and adversely affects response of these conditions to psychiatric treatments. This article provides an evidence-based approach to the pharmacotherapy of chronic pain. ⋯ A number of medications have proven effective in chronic pain disorders and their use individually or in combination should improve the management of chronic pain.