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Psychosomatic Issues in Chronic Pain Syndromes

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Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

Pain of uncertain etiology represents a major cause of disability in the United States with 790,000 cases of back pain hospitalized in 1984 (2nd leading cause of hospitalization)1, the term “chronic pain syndrome” being applicable where intractable multiple pain complaints exist in the absence of, or out of proportion to any underlying pathology, persist beyond a six month period, and they are usually associated with occupational or social disability, and psychological regression. Extensive review of the subject in the literature and our clinical and research findings suggest an interplay of psychologic, sociocultural and biologic factors in the production of the syndrome. Depression appears to play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of the sensory-affective experience of chronic pain.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich., 48202, USA

    Gerald G. Pope

Authors
  1. Gerald G. Pope
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

    George N. Christodoulou

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Pope, G.G. (1987). Psychosomatic Issues in Chronic Pain Syndromes. In: Christodoulou, G.N. (eds) Psychosomatic Medicine. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5454-3_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5454-3_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5456-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5454-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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