Preferences, Experience, and Attitudes in the Management of Chronic Pain and Depression: A Comparison of Physicians and Medical Students

OBJECTIVES:The current study investigated clinicians’ treatment preferences for chronic pain and depression and the extent to which these preferences were related to clinicians’ experience and attitudes. METHODS:Eighty-five participants (50 physicians, 35 medical students) made treatment recommendations for 8 virtual patients with chronic low back pain and depression. The 10 treatment options included pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. Participants also provided information about their clinical experience and completed measures assessing their attitudes toward patients with pain and depression. RESULTS:The highest recommended treatments were over-the-counter medications and topical modalities, whereas “no intervention,” referral to a pain specialist, and opioid medication received the lowest ratings. Physicians gave higher ratings to physical therapy (P