Assessing & Managing Pain

Describes decision points in the management of opioid therapy for chronic pain and provides evidence based recommendations for practitioners throughout the Department of Defense and VA healthcare systems.

Includes objective, evidence-based information on the management of chronic pain. Assists healthcare providers in all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and followup.

Provides recommendations on how to properly use and prescribe opioid medication for both acute and chronic pain.

Summarizes the evidence-based guidelines for management of chronic pain most relevant to clinicians.

Equips clinicians with practical guidance and tools for treating chronic pain in adults with a history of substance abuse. Discusses chronic pain management, including treatment with opioids, and offers information about substance abuse assessments and referrals.

Identifies patient problems and concerns attributed to use of opioids, rather than focusing on aberrant behaviors.

Assists in the prediction of aberrant drug-related behavior among patients with chronic pain.

Helps clinicians identify whether a long-term chronic pain patient is exhibiting aberrant behaviors associated with opioid medication misuse.

Provides a brief, psychometrically sound, and comprehensive assessment of the important components of the chronic pain experience.

Describes how to more effectively and safely manage patients seeking care for acute pain and encourages the clinician to carefully consider unintended consequences (abuse, misuse, overdose, addiction, and diversion) when prescribing opioids.