Enhancing psychological assessment and treatment of chronic pain: A research agenda for personalized and process-based approaches

Abstract

The heterogeneity of chronic pain and stagnating improvements in treatment effectiveness have prompted calls for a shift toward personalized and process-based approaches to the assessment and treatment of chronic pain. As this opens a new line of research, several fundamental questions arise. We begin by defining key terms and reviewing attempts to personalize treatment to date. Despite progress in personalization, long-term effects remain unclear. Existing studies are limited by group-based approaches that overlook individual variability. Future research should use idiographic methods and process-based therapy to tailor interventions to individual needs. A person- and process-oriented research agenda is needed that combines ambulatory assessment, network modeling, and single-case designs to advance personalized treatments for chronic pain and improve clinical decision-making.