Psychological and psychiatric aspects of pain

Pain—Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects

How important is pain as a topic for psychiatrists? A cursory glance at the index of a psychiatric journal suggests that it is of little interest, and yet as the authors of this monograph point out, pain cannot be defined other than as a psychological event and one, moreover, which occurs in 53% of psychiatric outpatients. We can no longer pretend that pain is a concern only for 'proper doctors'.

Psychological aspects of pain.

Psychological aspects of pain.

INTRODUCTION Pain is defined "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage". Pain is a sensation of the body, and is always an unpleasant emotional experience. The role of psychology is auxiliary and supplemental to medicine. This is an aid addressed to the patient, physician and patient's caregivers: prof...

Psychiatric Differential Aspects of Pain

Pain represents a frequent symptom in various psychiatric disorders ranging from so called psychogenic or somatoform disorders to depression, to schizophrenia and to organic brain syndromes including dementia. Th alamic lesions are long known to induce painful symptoms. Th e cortex is involved in pain awareness. Th e locus coeruleus modulates pain perception. Various facets of pain in a range o...

Psychological and Psychiatric Factors of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain syndrome is a major health and socioeconomic problem that is manifested by frequent asking of medical assistance, high price of health care, sick leave, work inability and disability as well as frequent compensation requests. Generally speaking, pain, especially chronic pain, significantly diminishes the patient and their family’s quality of life. Most people experience one or more...