Impact of Psychology on Life Quality in Chronic and Cancer Pain Patients

Impact of Psychology on Life Quality in Chronic and Cancer Pain Patients

This study is to compare the effect of pain management program. We compare life quality, pain scores, sleep, anxiety and depression scores, and self report measures before and after mindfulness based pain management workshops.

Chronic pain is a growing problem in modern society. One in every five person in developed countries have this condition. Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than six months. It lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, anger and chronic fatigue. It decreases life quality, lower self-esteem and decrease work force. Because of these factors and the high cost of treatment, it impacts social economics highly. Chronic pain is caused by wind-up effect of the nervous system which the inhibitory signals are impaired. The nervous systems is therefore tuned up. Mindfulness based pain management helps lower this wind-up effect by noticing self, to observe and release stress. It has been proven to alter brain activity, enhance self control, improve attention and decrease secretion of stress hormones. It decreases pain and allow patients to regain control of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pain condition for over six months, with diagnosis by pain physician to be of chronic pain or cancer pain.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to communicate in Mandarin.