Which of the following is a desired outcome for chronic (non-cancer) pain treatment?

The desired outcome for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain typically focuses on decreasing pain perception. This approach aims to alleviate the discomfort that patients experience, which can significantly improve their quality of life. While complete pain resolution might be an ideal goal, it is often unrealistic in the context of chronic pain conditions, hence it is not the primary objective of treatment.

Improving function is certainly a critical aspect of pain management, but it must go hand in hand with actually addressing and decreasing pain perception. If pain perception is not adequately managed, functional improvement may be limited.

Increasing dependency on medication is counterproductive and not a goal in pain management, as it can lead to further complications, including side effects and the risk of substance use disorders. Therefore, focusing on decreasing pain perception aligns with the primary aim of enhancing the overall well-being and functional capacity of patients suffering from chronic non-cancer pain.