Chronic Pain Management in an Aging Population

Current Challenges and Policy-Based Solutions

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22124657
AutoresLisa R LaRowe (0000-0003-1137-2849, Harvard University, autor correspondente), Seema M Patidar (0000-0002-7243-177X, VA Maryland Health Care System), Amy Goetzinger (Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, USA), Skye Ochsner Margolies, Skye Margolies (Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, USA), RYAN A MACE (0000-0001-5738-8606, Harvard University)
Ano2025
Volume12
Fascículo1
Páginas102-109
Data de publicação2025-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPolicy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2372-7322 • E-ISSN: 2372-7330
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/23727322241307916
OpenAlexW4405822700
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas53

Chronic pain in older adults is highly prevalent and often more complex to manage. Despite some recent successes in improving chronic pain management in this population, critical challenges and policy barriers remain: (1) healthcare professionals do not have enough training, education or experience; (2) treatments are too focused on biological causes of pain; (3) opioid regulations have had unintended consequences; (4) there are barriers to nonopioid and non-drug chronic pain treatments; and (5) age-related stigma and discrimination make it more difficult to detect and treat chronic pain. To more effectively assess and manage chronic pain in older adults, a comprehensive, bipartisan approach must include: (1) teaching healthcare professionals about chronic pain in older adults; (2) assessing and addressing chronic pain through a biopsychosocial lens, (3) improving implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for opioid use, (4) increasing access to nonopioid and non-drug chronic pain treatments, and (5) strengthening programs to reduce ageism

Biopsychosocial model · Chronic pain · Health care · Opioid · Pain management · Physical therapy · Population · Population ageing · Psychiatry · Unintended consequences · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Pain Management and Opioid Use