ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the assessment of pain in primary care settings. It explains that many of the psychosocial and personality characteristics often found in pain patients, and how they can be reliably assessed. The chapter focuses on one important component of the biopsychosocial approach: the psychosocial assessment. It explores that this biopsychosocial model has stimulated the development of therapeutic- and cost-effective interdisciplinary pain management programs. The chapter reviews a number of clinical constructs. It also discusses the issues of constructs, construct validity, and nomological networks. The chapter also reviews the Fear Avoidance Components Scale. Primary care practices have continuous, and growing, demands on time and resources that can threaten or overwhelm even the most dedicated and organized practitioner. The reliable and valid assessment of pain in primary care settings is especially important because complaints of pain account for 80% of all physician visits.
