Chronic pain (00133) is recurrent or persistent pain lasting at least 3 months that significantly affects daily functioning or well-being. Chronic pain syndrome (00255) is a syndrome diagnosis: in addition to chronic pain, it significantly impacts other human responses, so it includes other nursing diagnoses such as disturbed sleep pattern, fatigue, impaired physical mobility, or social isolation.

Chronic pain (00133) is defined as recurrent or persistent pain that has lasted at least 3 months and significantly affects daily functioning or well-being. Chronic pain syndrome (00255) is differentiated from chronic pain because, beyond the chronic pain itself, it also significantly impacts other human responses. A syndrome is a clinical judgment concerning a specific cluster of nursing diagnoses that occur together and are best addressed through similar interventions. Therefore, chronic pain syndrome includes chronic pain plus other nursing diagnoses, such as disturbed sleep pattern (00198), fatigue (00093), impaired physical mobility (00085), or social isolation (00053).

Key points

Chronic pain is pain lasting at least 3 months that significantly affects daily functioning or well-being.
Chronic pain syndrome is a syndrome diagnosis that includes chronic pain as one component.
Chronic pain syndrome also involves significant impact on other human responses, represented by additional nursing diagnoses.
Examples of coexisting diagnoses in chronic pain syndrome include disturbed sleep pattern, fatigue, impaired physical mobility, and social isolation.

What is the difference between chronic pain (00133) and chronic pain syndrome (00255)?

Related questions