Interdisciplinary Care

Interdisciplinary programs can be effective in improving pain and functioning for a variety of chronic non-cancer pain conditions.

Evidence for the intervention

Evidence describing interdisciplinary care comes from multiple systematic reviews citing low to moderate quality evidence. These reviews draw from randomized control trials sampling from populations that include low back pain, fibromyalgia, and multiple chronic pain conditions. Trials included in these systematic reviews generally had small sample sizes and a lack of clinician and participant blinding, which limited the quality of their findings. Studies examining real-world application of interdisciplinary care note differences in specific treatments offered, but future research is needed to understand which specific components of interdisciplinary care programs are essential to achieving clinical outcomes, and for whom specific components are most helpful. 

Evidence-based Scale

Low-to-moderate quality evidence suggests interdisciplinary care is effective for improving pain severity, mood concerns, quality of life, and/or disability in individuals with chronic non-cancer pain. Interdisciplinary care may not be required for most individuals with chronic pain. These types of programs are ideal for individuals with multiple, co-occurring medical and mental health conditions, opioid-related concerns, and patients requiring multiple simultaneous medications to otherwise manage their pain.