Pain : Psychological perspectives

This volume offers a comprehensive account of the psychology of pain that encompasses not only clinical perspectives but also basic social and behavioural science, as well as biopsychological contributions to the field.

The relatively recent focus on pain as a subjective experience encompassing thoughts, feelings and sensation has lead to dramatic improvements in our understanding of the complex psychological processes that represent and control pain.

There has also been an enhanced understanding of the ontogenetic, socialization and contextual determinants of pain.

Mechanisms responsible for the complex synthesis of sensations, feelings and thoughts underlying pain behaviour have been the target of concerted research and clinical investigation.

This volume explicates our current understanding of current theory and research on these complex psychological processes.

Both clinical (pain assessment and treatment) and basic (eg, consciousness and pain, the neuromatrix model, sociocommunication processes) perspectives are carefully examined by a group of pain researchers and clinicians.