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Abstract
Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that is difficult to treat and impacts significantly on psychosocial wellbeing. Cognitive behavioural interventions are central to the psychological treatment of chronic pain but have limited effects. In this paper, we present a narrative review describing the theoretical and empirical case for Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy (PIT) as an alternative approach to reducing distress and disability in people with chronic pain. We begin by describing the central tenets of the PIT model and present evidence demonstrating their applicability in chronic pain populations. Drawing on this model, we suggest that pain outcomes are influenced by early life experiences that shape our sense of self, how we relate to others and how we access social support, which are key drivers of how we cope with stressors and threats like chronic pain. We propose that interventions like PIT may be useful in addressing inter- and intra- personal factors which contribute to a person’s distress and maladaptive coping. We then describe the practical elements of the PIT model and how they can be used to improve outcomes in people with chronic pain. We conclude by comparing and contrasting PIT with other approaches to chronic pain and exploring the clinical and empirical implications of the model.
