The Importance of the Psychiatrist as a Member of the Multidisciplinary Pain Team

The document underscores the importance of integrating psychiatrists into multidisciplinary pain management teams, given the strong link between chronic pain and psychiatric disorders such as depression, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It points out that patients with concurrent pain and psychiatric conditions tend to experience more severe pain, reduced functioning, and higher disability levels. Psychiatrists are adept at prescribing medications commonly used in pain treatment, such as antidepressants, gabapentinoids, and antipsychotics, and their expertise in psychopharmacology allows them to offer a variety of analgesic options while also addressing comorbid psychiatric issues that can influence pain perception and treatment success. The document concludes that psychiatrists should be recognized as essential specialists within pain management teams to enhance patient care and outcomes, particularly in Brazil where pain specialization is emerging and there is a lack of trained pain professionals.