Reconsidering the International Association for the Study of Pain definition of pain

Pain Reports
Milton CohenSimon van Rysewyk

Abstract

The definition of pain promulgated by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is widely accepted as a pragmatic characterisation of that human experience. Although the Notes that accompany it characterise pain as "always subjective," the IASP definition itself fails to sufficiently integrate phenomenological aspects of pain. This essay reviews the historical development of the IASP definition, and the commentaries and suggested modifications to it over almost 40 years. Common factors of pain experience identified in phenomenological studies are described, together with theoretical insights from philosophy and biology. A fuller understanding of the pain experience and of the clinical care of those experiencing pain is achievable through greater attention to the phenomenology of pain, the social "intersubjective space" in which pain occurs, and the limitations of language. Based on these results, a revised definition of pain is offered: Pain is a mutually recognizable somatic experience that reflects a person's apprehension of threat to their bodily or existential integrity.

References

Dec 1, 1979·Pain·J J Degenaar
Jan 11, 1976·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·H Fabrega, S Tyma
Nov 1, 1992·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·G D Poole, K D Craig
Jan 1, 1971·Anesthesiology·R Melzack, W S Torgerson
Jul 2, 2004·Internal Medicine Journal·A W Frank
Oct 28, 2008·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·John L QuintnerOwen D Williamson
Nov 14, 2008·Pain·Troels S Jensen, G F Gebhart
Mar 11, 2011·Pain·Kalie N McCrystalDaniel N Jones
Nov 8, 2011·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Milton CohenLynette Guy
Jul 6, 2012·Lancet·Joanna Bourke
Mar 25, 2014·Current Biology : CB·Marian Stewart BartlettKang Lee
Apr 30, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Vittorio Gallese
Oct 19, 2016·Pain·Amanda C de C Williams, Kenneth D Craig
Feb 15, 2017·Pain·Abby TaborChristopher Eccleston

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 8, 2020·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·Aram S MardianShakaib Rehman
Dec 26, 2019·Pain Reports·Murat Aydede
Sep 5, 2020·Journal of Burn Care & Research : Official Publication of the American Burn Association·Kathleen S RomanowskiVictor Joe
Sep 5, 2020·Journal of Burn Care & Research : Official Publication of the American Burn Association·Kathleen S RomanowskiVictor Joe
Oct 1, 2020·Arts & Health·Amy LiKamWaStaja Q Booker
Jul 5, 2019·Toxicologic Pathology·Saravanan KaliyaperumalCharles Dean
Feb 9, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Jonas VinstrupLars L Andersen
May 15, 2018·Pain Reports·Mike Osborn
Jan 23, 2021·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·Tomohiko NishigamiG Lorimer Moseley
Feb 12, 2021·Frontiers in Endocrinology·Beatrice OehlerHeike L Rittner
Feb 12, 2021·Journal of Ethnopharmacology·Crispin D SesaaziAndrew G Mtewa
May 1, 2020·Trends in Neurosciences·Rose Z Hill, Diana M Bautista
Mar 1, 2021·Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice·Intansari Nurjannah, Ki Hariyadi
May 1, 2021·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Vanesa Cantón-HabasMaría Del Pilar Carrera-González
May 28, 2021·European Journal of Dentistry·Diane Isabel SelvidoNatthamet Wongsirichat
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Iván Cuyul-VásquezHéctor Gutiérrez-Espinoza

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

MPQ

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Provincial Medical & Surgical Journal
M H Lynch
Provincial Medical Journal and Retrospect of the Medical Sciences
M H Lynch
Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal
H F ELLENBERGER
Nursing Standard
Paul Bibby
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved