PsychEd Episode 35: Pain Psychiatry with Dr. Leon Tourian

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners.

This episode covers the psychiatric aspects of chronic pain with expert guest Dr. Leon Tourian, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University and psychiatrist at the MUHC Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit.

The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:

By the end of this episode, you should be able to…

  1. Explore the role of psychiatry in the management of pain.

  2. Discuss the epidemiology of psychiatric comorbidities in pain disorders.

  3. Outline the pathophysiology of pain and its relationship to psychiatric disorders.

  4. Outline the role of non-pharmacological management/treatment of pain including psychotherapy and central neuromodulation.

  5. Discuss a general psychopharmacology approach in the management of pain relief and psychiatric comorbidities with chronic pain (including SNRI, TCAs, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and cannabinoids).

  6. Discuss the intersection of pain medicine with somatic symptom and related disorders.

Guest expert: Dr. Leon Tourian

Hosts: Dr. Sarah Hanafi (PGY3), Dr. Nima Nahiddi (PGY3), Audrey Le (CC4)

Audio editing by: Audrey Le

Show notes by: Dr. Nima Nahiddi

Infographic by: Dr. Luba Bryushkova (PGY3)

Interview Content:

  • Introduction and learning objectives – 0:00

  • Role of psychiatry in management of chronic pain – 1:45

  • Psychiatric co-morbidities in patients with chronic pain – 5:45

  • Biological link between pain and psychiatric co-morbidities – 11:00

  • Psychological approach to understanding and management of chronic pain– 14:30

  • Central neuromodulation strategies for chronic pain – 21:00

  • General pharmacological approach to the management of chronic pain – 22:30

  • Pathogenesis of neuropathic and somatic visceral pain – 30:00

  • Antipsychotics in the management of chronic pain – 37:00

  • Cannabis in the management of chronic pain – 40:30

  • Somatic symptom disorder – 46:00

  • Stigma in chronic pain disorders – 53:10

  • Treatment of somatic symptom disorder – 58:30

  • Psychiatry and the stigma of chronic pain disorders– 61:00

  • Closing remarks – 65:15 

Articles and Resources:

References:

  • Dersh, J., Polatin, P. B., & Gatchel, R. J. (2002). Chronic pain and psychopathology: research findings and theoretical considerations. Psychosomatic medicine64(5), 773–786. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000024232.11538.54

  • Katz, J., Rosenbloom, B. N., & Fashler, S. (2015). Chronic Pain, Psychopathology, and DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder. Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie60(4), 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371506000402

  • O'Connell, N. E., Marston, L., Spencer, S., DeSouza, L. H., & Wand, B. M. (2018). Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for chronic pain. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews4(4), CD008208. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008208.pub5

  • Ratcliffe, G. E., Enns, M. W., Belik, S. L., & Sareen, J. (2008). Chronic pain conditions and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: an epidemiologic perspective. The Clinical journal of pain24(3), 204–210. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e31815ca2a3

  • Tunks, E. R., Crook, J., & Weir, R. (2008). Epidemiology of chronic pain with psychological comorbidity: prevalence, risk, course, and prognosis. Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie53(4), 224–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370805300403

CPA Note: The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA).

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