MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES IN CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic pain, persistent for more than three months, affects millions of people and imposes significant costs on public health. It is complex and therefore involves somatic, psychological and social factors, in addition to requiring a multidisciplinary approach, which integrates different treatment modalities. This approach has been shown to be superior to conventional unimodal therapies. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges to chronic pain management, however, it has also boosted the adoption of online treatment programs, which offer accessible solutions. The identification of factors predictive of a positive response to multidisciplinary treatment is essential to personalize interventions and maximize their benefits. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary approaches in the treatment of chronic pain. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in the Pubmed and Scopus databases, with a 5-year filter and studies of high methodological quality in the English language. Results and discussion: The multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management is effective due to its ability to integrate physical and psychological interventions, addressing both the biological and psychosocial aspects of pain. Studies show that this approach significantly improves patients' pain, functionality and quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital services in chronic pain management, and demonstrated that online programs can complement traditional interventions and provide ongoing support to patients. However, due to the fact that the studies are heterogeneous among themselves, there is still difficulty in analyzing them comprehensively, which highlights the need to identify predictive factors that can guide the personalization of treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, the multidisciplinary approach is a promising strategy for managing chronic pain, offering a holistic and adaptive vision that goes beyond traditional pharmacological therapies. The integration of physical and psychological therapies provides more effective and personalized pain management and improves patient outcomes. The pandemic highlighted the need for complementary digital solutions, which can expand the reach of treatments. The identification of predictive factors for response to multidisciplinary treatment is crucial to optimize clinical results and promote more targeted and efficient care.