The psychology of pain
Links:
Status: v104 Time: 2025-03-15 Tags: lecturenotes Links: Psychology of pain
Tasks:
Content:
Objectives: Recognize pain medicine as a necessary field in clinical practice Understand the basic science of pain processing Recognizes the multi dimensional aspects of the pain experience
Take home:
Doubt of pain
People dont tend to have a good understanding of pain in themselves and others People doubt the reality of pain/ think its in their head
impacts of pain
People can be disillusioned with health system as no cause can be found for persistent pain Has massive effects in life for the person and wider networks Persistent pain has great effects of wellbeing and life feel invalidated
Things to note: Terminology Acute pain Ususlly is resule to injury and less comples psychological processing and social accepyance
Chronic / persistant pain OVER 6 MONTHS Often no identifiable cause Complicated psychological processing and social acceptance Persistent somatic symptoms
Rambles:
How does acute pain turn into persistent pain
Nociceptive
Normal pathway first neuron primary afferent neurons second order neurons in the thalamus third order neurons thalamus to higher centres
Nociplastic
Repeated and ongoing noxious Stimulation May enhance sensitivity of pain May lead to neuroplastic changes
Basically This happens through plastic reformation Injury site lowers pain tolerance that doesnt resolve with injury
Physical basis of persistent pain
Pain vs Nociception
Pain is the lived experience of nociception
The factors that influence the feeling of pain are many: Source of injury Beliefs Cultural issues Illnesses and bodty sensitivity Coping strategies Social factors Psychological factors Nociception is the physical sensation of pain
so we can make pain go away but we will still get nociception
Biopsychosocial perspective of pain
fear avoidance model
Pain
threat thoughts: - is high +is low going to get hurt not going to get bettwe i cannot manage more worries
Negative priority is pain control and dealing with it worry and staying focused on the body fear
avoidance reduced activities which reduces happiness also saying no pain no gain isnt helpful either
interference interference with life and everything
negative affect more pain
Positive is holding thoughts that are low threat valuing life goals approach recovery
Treatment
focus on pain management of positive cycle dispell myths of chronic pain build rapport active listening validate and normalise educate on information and clear factual errors provide models of pain and what may/ may not be helpful pain meds referral to pain management team
Recognize pain medicine as a necessary field in clinical practice
pain medicine deals with people in pain and trying to alleviate that pain
Understand the basic science of pain processing acute pain vs
persistant somatic symptpms (umbrella term)
Recognizes the multi dimensional aspects of the pain experience