P.O. Box 891073
Houston, TX 77289
281-770-5370
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Return-to-Work Psychology
RETURN TO RETURN-TO-WORK PSYCHOLOGY PAGE
Psychological and Psychosocial Impacts During Treatment
The amount of pain a person experiences after an injury is not always a good predictor to how long a person will be off work or when they will return to work. Once a person is injured, the response from the company’s HCP is vital.
  • the HCPs are seen as either salvation or doom
  • if the person senses the HCP is disinterested in their symptoms or is distant during the evaluation, this can set up an adversarial role
  • if the HCP is more mentally in the room and focused on the person, the injured worker will feel more relaxed and reassured
  • the patient’s perception of the HCP’s motives during treatment will help determine not only the course of treatment but the cooperation the patient is willing to express and the number of times he or she is willing to make appointments and see the HCP
During the course of treatment and rehabilitation medical personnel, the company, and support network inadvertently give rewards when an injured person displays pain behaviors. Examples of rewards for this behavior include a spouse expressing concern when a person groans, financial support from the company or worker’s compensation, the supervisor saying not to hurry back, and medication given for pain. Indirect reinforcement includes being excused from certain chores, duties, work, or stressful therapeutic exercises because of pain. When these responses are perceived by the injured party as favorable, performance of the pain behaviors will be reinforced in order to avoid unpleasant or painful rehabilitation.