Spotlight on Pain Management

Comorbid Chronic Pain and PTSD: The Case for Yoga as a Simultaneous Treatment

by Belle Zaccari, PsyD
Seminar date: 3/7/2023

Description: Significant harms are associated with co-occurring chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a comorbidity that disproportionately affects Veteran populations compared to civilians. Conceptual models offer theories explaining the entwined and complex relationship between chronic pain and PTSD. Psychotherapy and pharmacological treatments for these two conditions are offered sequentially or concurrently despite the potential benefits of simultaneous treatment and complementary integrative health approaches. Yoga has shown promise for both conditions and is a compelling option for simultaneous care. This presentation will review the state of the science on yoga for chronic pain, PTSD, and their co-occurrence and discuss clinical implications and future directions for research.

Learning Objectives: 1. List harms associated with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD 2. Review conceptual and treatment models of this comorbidity 3. Examine the potential for yoga as a simultaneous treatment for chronic pain and PTSD

Target Audience: VA providers, administrators and researchers who focus on treatment of chronic pain, PTSD, and/or yoga and other complementary integrative health interventions.

View archived session video:

DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript

Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.