Pain is the most common reason individuals seek medical attention. Pain can be classified as either acute or chronic. Patients suffering from chronic pain deal with a mixture of physical, emotional, and social issues that makes the management of these patients very complex. Because of this complexity, a team treatment approach is imperative. One of these types of cases is described here, within the context of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. The collaborative role of the psychologist and physician in treatment planning is highlighted in this case presentation. The described case focuses on an individual dealing with a chronic painful condition, who also has a history of domestic abuse. Literature has shown that self-reported abuse may be an important prediction of chronic pain and supports the idea that abuse may indirectly or directly be implicated in the “chronification” of pain. Implications related to treatment are further explored in the case presentation and discussion.
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