Psychological aspects of neuropathic pain

Studies on the psychosocial impact of neuropathic pain conditions, includin g postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, complex regional pain syndro me, post spinal cord injury, postamputation, and AIDS-related neuropathy, a re reviewed. Although limited, data are consistent with the larger literatu re on chronic pain and indicate that neuropathic pain reduces quality of li fe, including mood and physical and social functioning. Depression and pain coping strategies such as catastrophizing and social support predict pain severity, and a single diary study demonstrates a prospective relation betw een depressed mood and increased pain. Clinical trials of psychological int erventions have not been reported, although some case series of successful treatment of nenropathic pain are reported, primarily in the area of biofee dback. Given the evidence indicating the broad impact of neuropathic pain o n many areas of function, it is surprising that so few studies have investi gated the impact of psychological interventions in these populations.