The role of the psychologist on the multidisciplinary pain management team

Psychologists are being increasingly sought for expertise in the area of pa in, yet many do not understand the full scope of practice. The cur-rent art icle describes the unique contributions of the psychologist to the understa nding of the multifactorial nature of pain. This includes the assessment of preexisting or secondary psychological factors associated with chronic pai n and the evidence-based psychological treatment of pain conditions. By fol lowing the recommendations outlined in this article, the pain psychologist can position him- or herself to take a positive leadership role in the comp rehensive delivery of care to the pain patient.