Improving Assessment of Sexual Concerns in Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Settings

Abstract

Individuals with chronic pain have higher rates of sexual dysfunction than individuals without chronic pain. Sexual health problems among individuals with chronic pain can be due to a number of biopsychosocial factors, including the actual affected body part(s), medication side effects, emotional distress, fatigue, social role change, and relationship dynamics. For many individuals, sexual health is an important part of quality of life. Sexual health can be a neglected aspect of interdisciplinary chronic pain management. This may be due to embarrassment on the part of the patient and/or provider to broach the topic, providers seeing sexual health as outside of the scope of pain management, limited provider knowledge of the topic and/or potential referral resources, and appointment time constraints. This article provides a fictional case vignette to illustrate the intersection of sexual health and chronic pain, reviews relevant literature, and provides evidence-based guidelines for improving psychologists’ ability to not only assess sexual health concerns in chronic pain settings but address them and communicate with interdisciplinary providers about the topic.

Continuing Education Information

1 CE Credit, Instructional Level: Intermediate

1 Contact Hour (New York Board of Psychology)

Disclosures: Authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Generative AI was not used for the development or content.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe components of culturally responsive care.
2. List the stages of the PLISSIT model.
3. Explain the role of health service psychologists treat patients with chronic pain

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CE Disclaimers

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