PSYC 155 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Chronic Pain, Back Pain, Reductionism
Document Summary
Pain: an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience accompanied by actual or potential tissue damage. Varies by person (women more sensitive than men) Inadequate relief from pain is the most common reason for requests of euthanasia or assisted suicide. Most commonly cited reason for seeking medical health. Back pain is the most common chronic pain condition. Behaviors specifically associated with pain, usually indicate the presence of pain facial/audible expressions. Acute pain: results from a specific injury, adaptive, disappears when problem is solved. Chronic pain : begins with an acute episode but does not decrease with treatment and or time, persists in absence of tissue damage, it is a disease state. Increases pain as it provides an incentive for being in pain. Positive attention from spouse may maintain the pain. The most significant determinant of pain chronicity appears to be the level of impact on daily activities.
