Facing and Overcoming Pain Through Scientific Evidence: The Imperative of Exposure as a Psychological Technique for Cognitive Behavioral Treatments in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

On the basis of a research study on cognitive behavioral psychotherapies conducted between 2016 and 2020, this article analyzes exposure as a psychological technique focused on facing and overcoming distressing situations that interfere with everyday life and cause pain. Said psychotherapies have gained more relevance in Argentina in recent years. Their development and institutionalization continued during the first decades of the new millennium. By the late 1990s, there were social and economic transformations that modified people's lives and produced different types of suffering. In addition, that scenario was set with subjectivity models based on the importance of being autonomous and responsible in different spheres of daily life (including healthcare). Accordingly, current social imperatives such as "you can do it" or "give it another try" become values linked to personal realization that are assimilated by these psychotherapies through techniques such as exposure. In that respect, this article aims at analyzing exposure as a psychological technology with evidence-based epistemological presuppositions and problem-solving models based on the subjects' individual commitment. Unlike most social-anthropological studies that connect the notion of exposure to that of risk, from a cognitive behavioral standpoint, self-exposing and overcoming the cause of distress is associated with a successful therapeutic process. This study used a qualitative methodology, and the technique was the analysis drawn from 30 semi-structured interviews with cognitive behavioral psychologists from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dolor crónico y narrativa: experiencias cotidianas y trayectorias de atención en el padecimiento de la migraña / Chronic pain and narrative: everyday experiences and trajectories of care in suffering from migraine

Desde una perspectiva socio antropológica, este trabajo está dirigido a contribuir al conocimiento del padecimiento crónico de la migraña. Para ello se realiza una investigación cualitativa, a través de entrevistas a médicos neurólogos y personas con esta dolencia, en un hospital público del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina. El objetivo principal es explorar, a través de las narrativas de quienes padecen, las experiencias, prácticas cotidianas y trayectorias de atención con este tipo de dolor de cabeza. Algunas particularidades de la migraña que la diferencian de otras dolencias crónicas, y que condicionan los modos en que los pacientes se relacionan con su entorno residen en que la migraña carece de condiciones fácticas de verificación, y no tiene una etiología precisa ni un tratamiento eficaz. A partir de esto, los sujetos dicen que, en algunos casos, se relaciona al padecimiento con excusas y falta de legitimidad. Por otro lado, a través de los relatos, se observa que la migraña pasa a formar parte de la biografía de la persona. Por último, la mayoría de los pacientes dicen acostumbrarse y resignarse a estos dolores de cabeza y a tener paciencia, algo que influye en la relación consigo mismos y con los otros.

From a socio-anthropological perspective, this paper aims to contribute to the knowledge of suffering chronic migraine. For this reason, qualitative research was conducted through interviews with neurologists and people with this condition in a hospital in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The main objective is to explore, through the narratives of people suffering this condition, the experiences, daily practices and trajectories of care for this type of headache. Some features of migraine, which differentiate it from other chronic pain and influence the way patients relate to their environment, is that migraine does not allow to check facts and does not have a certain etiology or effective treatment. From this, the subjects say that in some cases, the pain is associated with the excuses and lack of legitimacy. Furthermore, through the stories, it is observed that migraine becomes part of the biography of the person. Finally, most patients said to have become accustomed to these headaches and have patience, something that affects the relationship with themselves and others.

A partir de uma perspectiva sócio-antropológica, o presente trabalho visa contribuir para o conhecimento do sofrimento crônico da enxaqueca. Por esse motivo, foi realizada pesquisa qualitativa, através de entrevistas com médicos neurologistas e pessoas com esta condição em um hospital da Região Metropolitana de Buenos Aires, Argentina. O objetivo principal é explorar, através das narrativas de pessoas que sofrem esta condição, as experiências, práticas cotidianas e trajetórias de cuidado com este tipo de dor de cabeça. Algumas características da enxaqueca, que a diferenciam de outras dores crônicas e influenciam na maneira como os pacientes se relacionam com seu ambiente, são que a enxaqueca não tem condições de verificação factual e que não tem uma etiologia certa nem um tratamento eficaz. A partir disso, os sujeitos dizem que, em alguns casos, o sofrimento é associado à escusas e à falta de legitimidade. Além disso, através das histórias, observa-se que a enxaqueca se torna parte da biografia da pessoa. Finalmente, a maioria dos pacientes diz ter se acostumado a essas dores de cabeça e a ter paciência, algo que influi no relacionamento com si próprio e com os outros.

[Self-care, adherence and uncertainty: biomedical treatments and patients' experiences regarding chronic migraine pain]. / Autocuidado, adherencia e incertidumbre: tratamientos biomédicos y experiencias de pacientes en el dolor crónico de la migraña.

Based in the social sciences, this text explores and analyzes the particularities of migraine treatments using a relational approach, articulating the statements of professionals with the experiences and practices of patients in health services and their everyday care trajectories to manage pain. This qualitative research study utilized semi-structured interviews with neurologists and patients in a public hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. A number of processes were observed by which biomedicine assigns part of the responsibility for the course of the disease to the patient through the logic of self-care. Patients must make changes in their ways of life in order to prevent headaches from appearing. Nevertheless, as the efficacy of these modifications is unclear, daily life is filled with uncertainty and charged with the mandate to follow care guidelines, which are valued not only professionally but also socially.

Autocuidado, adherencia e incertidumbre: tratamientos biomédicos y experiencias de pacientes en el dolor crónico de la migraña / Self-care, adherence and uncertainty: biomedical treatments and patients' experiences regarding chronic migraine pain

En este escrito se exploran y analizan, desde las ciencias sociales, algunas particularidades de los tratamientos para la migraña desde un enfoque relacional que articula los dichos de los profesionales con las experiencias y prácticas de los pacientes en los servicios de salud y en sus trayectorias de cuidado cotidianas con este dolor. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas a médicos neurólogos y pacientes en un hospital público de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Se observan un conjunto de procesos por medio de los cuales la biomedicina delega en los pacientes parte de la responsabilidad del curso de su dolencia a través de una lógica de autocuidado. Los sujetos deben realizar numerosos cambios en sus modos de vida a fin de evitar la aparición de los dolores de cabeza. Sin embargo, al no existir certezas en torno a la eficacia de estas modificaciones, la cotidianidad se recubre de incertidumbre y de la exigencia de seguir pautas de cuidado cuyo cumplimiento es valorado no solo por los profesionales sino también socialmente.

Based in the social sciences, this text explores and analyzes the particularities of migraine treatments using a relational approach, articulating the statements of professionals with the experiences and practices of patients in health services and their everyday care trajectories to manage pain. This qualitative research study utilized semi-structured interviews with neurologists and patients in a public hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. A number of processes were observed by which biomedicine assigns part of the responsibility for the course of the disease to the patient through the logic of self-care. Patients must make changes in their ways of life in order to prevent headaches from appearing. Nevertheless, as the efficacy of these modifications is unclear, daily life is filled with uncertainty and charged with the mandate to follow care guidelines, which are valued not only professionally but also socially.

Autocuidado, adherencia e incertidumbre: tratamientos biomédicos y experiencias de pacientes en el dolor crónico de la migraña / Self-care, adherence and uncertainty: biomedical treatments and patients experiences regarding chronic migraine pain

En este escrito se exploran y analizan, desde las ciencias sociales, algunas particularidades de los tratamientos para la migraña desde un enfoque relacional que articula los dichos de los profesionales con las experiencias y prácticas de los pacientes en los servicios de salud y en sus trayectorias de cuidado cotidianas con este dolor. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas a médicos neurólogos y pacientes en un hospital público de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Se observan un conjunto de procesos por medio de los cuales la biomedicina delega en los pacientes parte de la responsabilidad del curso de su dolencia a través de una lógica de autocuidado. Los sujetos deben realizar numerosos cambios en sus modos de vida a fin de evitar la aparición de los dolores de cabeza. Sin embargo, al no existir certezas en torno a la eficacia de estas modificaciones, la cotidianidad se recubre de incertidumbre y de la exigencia de seguir pautas de cuidado cuyo cumplimiento es valorado no solo por los profesionales sino también socialmente.(AU)

Based in the social sciences, this text explores and analyzes the particularities of migraine treatments using a relational approach, articulating the statements of professionals with the experiences and practices of patients in health services and their everyday care trajectories to manage pain. This qualitative research study utilized semi-structured interviews with neurologists and patients in a public hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. A number of processes were observed by which biomedicine assigns part of the responsibility for the course of the disease to the patient through the logic of self-care. Patients must make changes in their ways of life in order to prevent headaches from appearing. Nevertheless, as the efficacy of these modifications is unclear, daily life is filled with uncertainty and charged with the mandate to follow care guidelines, which are valued not only professionally but also socially.(AU)

Autocuidado, adherencia e incertidumbre: tratamientos biomédicos y experiencias de pacientes en el dolor crónico de la migraña. / [Self-care, adherence and uncertainty: biomedical treatments and patients experiences regarding chronic migraine pain].

Based in the social sciences, this text explores and analyzes the particularities of migraine treatments using a relational approach, articulating the statements of professionals with the experiences and practices of patients in health services and their everyday care trajectories to manage pain. This qualitative research study utilized semi-structured interviews with neurologists and patients in a public hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. A number of processes were observed by which biomedicine assigns part of the responsibility for the course of the disease to the patient through the logic of self-care. Patients must make changes in their ways of life in order to prevent headaches from appearing. Nevertheless, as the efficacy of these modifications is unclear, daily life is filled with uncertainty and charged with the mandate to follow care guidelines, which are valued not only professionally but also socially.