ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
It is widely recognized that pain is undertreated, largely determined by the minimal academic training on the subject. This article aims to propose and present curricular guidelines in pain for undergraduate and graduate psychologists in Brazil.
CONTENTS:
From an extensive literature review about education and pain, and based on national and international guidelines, curricular guidelines that contemplate the psychologist's education have been developed. The skills and competencies addressed in the training of the psychologist should contemplate their multifactorial nature, the importance of multidimensional evaluation, theoretical and technical models for interventions and management of the painful condition and aspects related to research and ethical aspects.
CONCLUSION:
The contents proposed in the pain curriculum for psychologists can and should be integrated considering the regional characteristics and demands of the educational institutions and the availability of qualified professionals to teach and can be applied both to undergraduate and graduate courses. It is believed that having curricular guidelines to teach this subject not only broadens the psychologist's understanding of the health-disease process, but also increases their professional possibilities to perform their roles in multi, inter and transdisciplinary healthcare levels.
Keywords:
Curricular guidelines; Curriculum; Education; Pain; Psychology