Phantom Pain—Psychological Conceptualization and Treatment: A Case Report
1996 ◽
Vol 24
(3)
◽
pp. 275-281
Keyword(s):
One Year
◽
This paper describes a case concentrating on the psychological conceptualization and treatment of phantom pain. A single session of cognitive work, teaching an “attention diversion’ strategy, was effectively utilized for the treatment of below knee phantom pain in an elderly lady. A follow-up, approximately one year later, revealed that the treatment gains had been maintained. Although a review of the literature (Sherman, Sherman and Gall, 1980) presents a rather murky picture as regards treatment prospects, the results nevertheless illustrate how a very simple cognitive strategy was successfully employed to alleviate a long standing debilitating phantom pain.