A targeted strategy for post-surgical pain: screening for catastrophizing
A recent article in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine proposes a new clinical strategy for transitional pain services. The core recommendation is to implement routine screening for pain catastrophizing—a pattern of negative cognitive and emotional responses to pain—in patients at risk of developing chronic post-surgical pain. Following identification, the article advocates for targeted, personalized psychological and pharmacological interventions aimed at this specific risk factor. This approach seeks to move beyond a one-size-fits-all model to a more precise method of preventing acute pain from transitioning into a debilitating chronic condition.
Why it might matter to you: For critical care professionals managing complex post-operative patients, this strategy directly addresses a key modifiable risk factor for prolonged recovery and poor outcomes. Implementing such screening could refine sedation, analgesia, and delirium prevention protocols in the ICU by identifying patients who are psychologically vulnerable to heightened pain perception. This represents a shift towards integrated care models where psychological assessment informs physiological management, potentially reducing long-term opioid dependence and improving functional recovery after critical illness.
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