Operationalizing Pain Treatment in the Biopsychosocial Model: Take a Daily "SWEM"--Socialize, Work, Exercise, Meditate.

In the United States, chronic pain is often poorly treated at an exceedingly high cost. The use of the biomedical model to manage pain is frequently ineffective, and evidence suggests that the biopsychosocial (BPS) model is a better choice. A problem with the BPS model is that it has not been operationalized in terms of patient behavior.

A 40-Minute Phone Intervention.

This article recounts the experience of an 88-year-old woman with sciatic pain and her attempts to get it treated. Common interventions were utilized and failed, and back surgery was recommended. A patient advocate was consulted who suggested the need to begin to exercise and to reconsider other medical interventions.