Psychiatric evaluation and therapy of pain patients

Psychiatric-treatment of pain syndromes in general hospital and outpatient settings is becoming increasingly important. Psychiatric consultation-liaison services should conceive of treating pain patients as a major part of their clinical work, for which psychiatry has to offer special expertise. In order to stimulate interest in treating such patients within psychiatry, the following article outlines diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of psychiatry's unique contribution within multidisciplinary treatment teams for pain patients.