Pain Management Programmes

A Pain Management Programme (PMP) is a psychologically-based rehabilitative treatment for people with chronic pain which remains unresolved by other treatments currently available . It is delivered in a group setting by an interdisciplinary team of experienced health care professionals working closely with patients.

Some Pain Centres may run Pain Management Programmes that aim to teach a group of patients with similar problems about pain, how best to cope with it and how to live a more active life, others may offer acupuncture and other complementary therapies.

The aim of all PMPs is to reduce the disability and distress caused by persistent pain by teaching physical, psychological and practical techniques to improve quality of life. It differs from other treatments provided in Pain Clinics in that pain relief is not the primary goal, although improvements in pain following participation in a Pain Management Programme have been demonstrated.

In 1997 the Society published guidelines on ‘Desirable criteria for pain management programmes’. This publication presented the findings of a working party established by the Pain Society to define reasonable guidelines that should be adhered to by pain management programmes. The publication is currently under review and will be re-launched at the 2006 Annual Scientific Meeting in Harrogate. Full details can be found in the Publications section.

An application has been submitted to form a Pain Management Programme Society Special Interest Group, whose activities will include maintaining a current register of UK Pain Management Programmes. Full details will be found in the SIG section of the For members section.