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Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Return to Work

  • Chapter
Handbook of Return to Work

Part of the book series: Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability ((SHHDW,volume 1))

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioral theory has played a leading role in the development of psychological interventions for individuals with pain conditions. This chapter outlines the effectiveness and nature of interventions, in particular those intended to reduce pain-related disability. The review is deliberately selective, focusing on interventions that have been systematically evaluated, with clinical references where possible. The following interventions will be discussed: behavioral/operant programs, back schools/information and education interventions, cognitive-behavioral interventions, stress management programs, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive processing therapy, risk factor-targeted interventions, and graded activity and exposure. The chapter concludes with key considerations in intervention selection, such as the inclusion of psycho-education, stress reduction, implications of secondary prevention, and risk factors related to chronicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology, Medicine and Neurology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1B1

    Michael J. L. Sullivan

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Correspondence to Michael J. L. Sullivan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. and Special Education, Dept. Edu. and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada

    Izabela Z. Schultz

  2. Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

    Robert J. Gatchel

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Sullivan, M.J.L. (2016). Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Return to Work. In: Schultz, I., Gatchel, R. (eds) Handbook of Return to Work. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability, vol 1. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7627-7_20

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