A dual-focus approach for evaluating contributors to chronic pain: The roles of psychosocial risk and resilience factors

Abstract

There has been a predominant focus on psychosocial risk factors associated with poor pain outcomes among individuals with chronic pain. However, it is also important to identify resilience factors that may mitigate the negative impact of or confer successful adaptation to pain. We argue for a dual-focus approach that evaluates the contributions of both risk and resilience factors. Person-centered statistical techniques (cluster analysis) may be beneficial to phenotype individuals based on their psychosocial characteristics to help inform treatment selection. Identifying treatment moderators based on individual-level characteristics (race/ethnicity) may provide insight into differences in treatment efficacy. Utilizing a holistic approach can inform the development and implementation of culturally adapted and personalized treatments aimed at reducing risk and bolstering resilience factors.