There are some people who do have medically diagnosable psychological conditions that deserve special consideration. These are our family, friends, and neighbors for whom debilitating pain does serve a psychological purpose. The most common cause of psychologically enhanced or psychosomatic chronic neck and back pain is job dissatisfaction. Being in so much pain that you couldn't go to work even if you wanted to may be a person's only way to safeguard their dignity while avoiding a workplace that provides nothing but disdain or discontentment. And as unimaginable or upsetting as that may seem, it is far sadder when people manifest chronic neck or back pain as a means of garnering the attention or affection they so deeply deserve. In severe cases such as these, the degree of chronic pain can be psychologically amplified to the point that it creates a devastating physical disability. These patients need compassionate, specialized treatments for their psychological conditions. They also require the utmost reassurance that with effort and dedication, they can overcome their physical pain.
There are some people who do have medically diagnosable
psychological conditions that deserve special consideration. These
are our family, friends, and neighbors for whom debilitating pain
does serve a psychological purpose. The most common...
More
Dr. Gerald M. Silverman answered:There are some people who do have medically diagnosable psychological conditions that deserve special consideration. These are our family, friends, and neighbors for whom debilitating pain does serve a psychological purpose. The most common cause of psychologically enhanced or psychosomatic chronic neck and back pain is job dissatisfaction. Being in so much pain that you couldn't go to work even if you wanted to may be a person's only way to safeguard their dignity while avoiding a workplace that provides nothing but disdain or discontentment. And as unimaginable or upsetting as that may seem, it is far sadder when people manifest chronic neck or back pain as a means of garnering the attention or affection they so deeply deserve. In severe cases such as these, the degree of chronic pain can be psychologically amplified to the point that it creates a devastating physical disability. These patients need compassionate, specialized treatments for their psychological conditions. They also require the utmost reassurance that with effort and dedication, they can overcome their physical pain.