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The psychology of pain
Date
25 Jul 2024
Author/Presenter
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Table of Contents
Chronic pain affects 20% of people. Approximately 50% of adults report having pain in the previous 3 months, with 11% reporting daily experiences of pain.1,2 In a significant portion of chronic pain cases, however, definitive peripheral causes of chronic pain cannot be identified. Many people reporting severe pain do not have objective markers consistent with the report of pain.3,4 For example, over 80% of people with chronic back pain reveal no evidence of objective pathology. These findings indicate that other factors are at play apart from medical.
Key highlights
- Chronic pain affects 20% of people. Many chronic pain cases lack definitive peripheral causes.
- Pain and pain-related behaviour result from biological, psychological, social, and contextual factors.
- CSS involves heightened pain sensitivity and lowered pain thresholds, affecting those with conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Thoughts, beliefs, and mood states impact pain perception. Low pain self-efficacy and pain-catastrophising increase pain perception and disability.
- Social support and attitudes significantly affect pain severity and recovery.