DR MICHAEL SULLIVAN

Dr. Sullivan holds the Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Health at McGill University. Dr. Sullivan has been a pioneer in research on psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery. He developed the most widely used measures of psychosocial risk factors including the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Injustice Experiences Questionnaire (IEQ). He has published over 200 peer reviewed scientific papers. Dr. Sullivan developed PGAP on the basis of his extensive research on cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of disability. PGAP was included in the Official Disability Guidelines as an evidence-based intervention for the prevention of work-disability in 2013.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

Over the years, The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) has evolved into a transdiagnostic approach to managing psychosocial risk factors for prolonged disability. Although PGAP was originally developed to target psychosocial risk factors for pain-related disability, the program has been progressively modified to increase the range of disabling conditions for which it can yield benefit. Recent research has supported the use of PGAP as an effective intervention for fostering occupational re-integration in individuals with low back pain, whiplash injury, fibromyalgia, depression and PTSD. Ongoing trials are examining the effectiveness of PGAP for individuals with TBI and Post-Covid 19 Syndrome. This presentation will describe the features of PGAP that make the intervention suitable for managing the disability that is associated with a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions.