The authors of a recent study published in American Psychologist conducted a literature review to “provide a broad overview of the scope and impact of persistent pain in older people and to discuss mechanisms by which persistent geriatric pain can lead to suffering and disability.” The authors reviewed “differences between older and younger people in terms of pain perception, the social network, beliefs about pain, pain-related coping, and adherence to pain medication.” The authors found “a need for greater provider training in pain management to meet the needs of a changing U.S. population.”
