Papers of the Week

Pain is agreed to be understood as a multi-causal, biopsychosocial phenomenon. A sufficient health care delivery shall therefore contain a corresponding interdisciplinary approach in diagnostic and therapy, respectively. Factors contributing to the process of chronification should be considered early in treating patients suffering from recurrent or persistent pain. Close collaboration of multidisciplinary protagonists in health care as well as interdisciplinary comprehensive medical treatment offer are two of the prerequisites for good practice in health care treating patients with pain.The article introduces into existing knowlegde about pain and risk factors for chronicity. The background (evidence and theoretical) of corresponding health care approaches and a detailed concept of interdisciplinary pain diagnostic by a multiprofessional team consisting of pain physician, physiotherapist and clinical psychologist are described and discussed.