Why not a national institute on pain research? Book Section
| Authors: | Foley, K. M.; Szalavitz, M. |
| Editor: | McEwen, B. S. |
| Article/Chapter Title: | Why not a national institute on pain research? |
| Abstract: | (from the chapter) In the 1970s, little was understood about how the brain processes and feels pain. For example, fewer than ten neurotransmitters of any kind were known to exist in the entire brain, and only a small portion of their receptors had been identified. No one knew how opioid medications like morphine worked. The brain's own painkillers and the receptor systems on which they acted were just starting to be discovered. Attitudes toward patients in pain--even those who were dying--were just as primitive. Patients and physicians alike thought that pain should be viewed as a sign that could help the doctor find out what was wrong, not as a symptom or a disease entity that should be targeted in itself for relief. Addiction to pain medication, believed to be almost inevitable if such medication was provided, was considered far worse than some "discomfort." The author of this chapter shares some of what she has seen and learned about treating pain and highlight where more research--and greater understanding by the public and regulators--is urgently needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). |
| Keywords: | treatment; pain; brain; opioids; attitudes; receptors; addiction; neurotransmitters; pain medications |
| Book Title: | Cerebrum 2007: Emerging Ideas in Brain Science |
| ISBN: | 978-1-932594-24-9 |
| Publisher: | Dana Press Us |
| Publication Place: | Washington, DC |
| Date Published: | 2007-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 23 |
| End Page: | 37 |
| Language: | English |
| PROVIDER: | Ovid Technologies |
| ACCESSION: | Book: 2006-23193-002 |
| PROVIDER: | psycinfo |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - Read, Cynthia A [Ed - xv, 251 - "Source: PsycINFO" |
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