Chronic Pain Core Curriculum

PCSS-MOUD clinical experts, led by Roger Chou, MD, FACP and Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM, with Drs. Kevin Sevarino and Frances Levin, have developed a comprehensive core curriculum for healthcare providers in treating chronic pain and addressing concerns about opioid use disorder. The modules in this updated curriculum have been revised by Drs. Chou, Weimer and Sevarino from material released in 2017. The revision includes up-to-date content, including accommodations for shifts in language and terminology.

These modules, taken individually or cohesively, will provide learners with up-to-date and evidence-based information on best opioid prescribing practices and treatment of opioid use disorder. Healthcare professionals who participate in this curriculum should see an increase in their competence and confidence as they treat patients who may suffer from chronic pain.

NOTE: As of June 1, 2024, the Chronic Pain Core Curriculum modules provides learners with a Certificate of Attendance acknowledging 1 hour of participation (0 CE). This course offers no CE credit. PCSS-MOUD will release a new 14-module curriculum on Pain by the end of 2024.

Please email us with any questions.

Course Listing

1: Basics of Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Evaluation

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
*Daniel P. Alford, MD, MPH; *Seddon Savage, MD; Roger Chou, MD; Kevin A. Sevarino, MD, PhD; and Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This module reviews introductory information regarding chronic pain and chronic pain evaluation, including how to identify pain mechanisms, perform a pain assessment, and examine the impact of psychosocial factors and mental health on the pain experience.
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2: Basic Tenets of Pain Treatment

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Opioids, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Pharmacology ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Michael Saenger, MD, *Seddon Savage, MD, *R. Corey Waller, MD, MS, Roger Chou, MD, Kevin A. Sevarino, MD, PhD, Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
The learner is presented with foundational information on pain treatment. The module reviews material on the sociopsychobiological model of pain and how that impacts treatment approaches, the evidence for pharmacological and non pharmacological therapies for pain, and the recommended strategies for managing common pain conditions.
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3: Opioid Therapy For Pain: An Evidence Review

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Opioids, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Pharmacology ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Roger Chou, MD
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
Participants who engage in this activity are presented with evidence on the use of therapy for chronic pain. Additionally, participants learn to assess risks and benefits of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain and to describe the factors associated with prescription opioid overdose and misuse.
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4: Opioid Pharmacology and Dosing Management

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Opioids, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Pharmacology ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
*Daniel P. Alford, MD, MPH, *Lynn Webster, MD, Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
In this module participants learn to describe opioid pharmacology, efficacy, and safety, as well as to explain how to start, continue, modify, and discontinue or taper opioid therapy.
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5: Opioid Risk Assessment, Mitigation, and Management

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Opioids, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Pharmacology ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
*Daniel P. Alford, MD, MPH, *Phillip Coffin, MD, Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This activity focuses on the assessment, mitigation and management of opioid risk. Learners are introduced to information on universal precautions and their role in opioid therapy, and monitoring and documentation strategies. The fundamental principles of urine drug testing and interpretation are reviewed, as well as the differential diagnosis for drug misuse. Naloxone and when it should be co-prescribed are also discussed.
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6: Understanding and Assessing Opioid Use Disorder in Patients with Chronic Pain

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Assessment, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Screening and Assessment ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
*Karen Miotto, MD, *Seddon Savage, MD, *Jodie Trafton, PhD, Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
Participants who engage in this activity learn to identify the key features of opioid use disorder (OUD). They review a neurobiological framework/explanatory model for patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder, and learn to recognize that differentiating opioid use disorder from pain is a complex task. Participants are informed about how to perform an OUD evaluation in primary care.
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7a: Opioids for Pain Treatment in Persons with Opioid Use Disorder

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Medications, Opioids, Opioids, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
*Patricia Pade, MD, *Seddon R. Savage, MD, MS, Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
In this module participants review how to identify the main principles of pain treatment in opioid use disorder and to describe how these principles are applied to the treatment of pain in OUD and chronic non-terminal, non-cancer pain.
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7b: Managing Pain in the Patient with Opioid Use Disorder: Inpatient Management

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Medications, Opioids, Opioids, Opioids, Pain ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Melissa Weimer, DO, MCR, FASAM
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This module emphasizes that substance use disorder is a chronic disease and identifies the ways in which pain can be effectively treated in patients with opioid use disorders. Participants examine how to safely use methadone for opioid withdrawal management in the hospital as well as how to manage inpatient pain treatment in patients prescribed buprenorphine.
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8: Motivational Interviewing in Managing Pain

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Social Workers
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Brief Intervention, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Psychotherapeutic, Treatment ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Patricia Bruckenthal, PhD, APRN-BC, ANP, FAAN
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This activity focuses on the foundational components of Motivational Interviewing and how this approach fits into health care. Participants learn how to apply motivational interviewing skills in a pain management framework.
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9: Stress, Relaxation, and Mindful Breathing: A Primer

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Psychotherapeutic, Treatment ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Kevin E. Vowles, PhD
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
Learners in this activity review the relation between stress and bodily responses. The module introduces how to instruct relaxation and mindfulness techniques in the clinic in order to help address stress, pain and distress.
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10: Keys to Communication Success in Opioid Management

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Erin E. Krebs, MD, MPH
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This module addresses the patient and their perspective on pain and opioid management. It identifies practical approaches to limiting, reducing, or discontinuing opioids while maintaining a positive patient-physician relationship. Participants also learn to describe the role of shared decision-making in opioid tapering and discontinuation.
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11a: Managing Patients with Pain and Psychiatric Co-Morbidity

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Co-Occurring Addiction / Psychiatric, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
John A. Renner Jr., MD
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
This activity reviews the prevalence and impact of Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders on patients with chronic pain. Participants learn about assessing patients with chronic pain who suffer from Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders and compare treatment approaches.
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11b: Pain Medication and Adolescents: Special Considerations

Target Audience(s):
Nurses, PAs, Physicians, Students and Educators
Topic(s):
Co-Occurring Addiction / Medical Disorders, Chronic Pain, Curriculum, Education Addiction Psychiatry / Addiction Medicine, General Medical Comorbidities, Pain, Pain Core Curriculum, Pediatrics / Adolescent ...
Organizer(s):
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Presenter(s):
Patricia Cintra Franco Schram, MD
Credit Available:
CE Credit(s): No
Designations: Certificate of Attendance, 1-hour
Participants in this module examine data addressing the vulnerability of adolescents when exposed to opioids. Given this, learners develop skills to provide information about the risks of opioids as an important component of treating adolescents, and recognize that many of the principles about safe opioid prescribing for adolescents are the same as those that pertain to adults.
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Adam Bisaga, MD, 2018 Steering Committee Meeting

Mentoring

Designed for health professionals treating individuals with OUD or prescribing opioids for pain. Our experts provide support by phone, email, or in-person if logistically possible.

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