Neuroscience of Pain, Stress, and Emotion ― Psychological and Clinical Implications

Stress and pain are key research areas within both basic and clinical neuroscience, and stress and emotion both factor into the experience and treatment of pain. Improved research understanding of the interaction between the three is ultimately necessary if clinicians and those working in the field of psychosomatic medicine are to alleviate patient suffering. This volume offers broad coverage of that interaction, with chapters written by major researchers in the field. After reviewing the neuroscience of pain and stress the contents go on to address: the interaction between stress and chronic/acute pain, the role of different emotions in pain, neurobiological mechanisms mediating these various interactions, individual differences in both stress and pain, and the role of patient expectations during treatment (placebo and nocebo responses) and how those relate to stress modulation. While there are books on the market which discuss pain, stress and emotion separately, this volume is the first to tackle their nexus, and as such it will appeal to both researchers and clinicians.

‧ The only comprehensive reference detailing the link between pain, stress and emotion, covering the neuroscientific underpinnings, related psychological processes and clinical implications
‧ Compiles in one place research which promises to improve the methodology of clinical trials and the use of knowledge of pain-stress-emotion effects in order to reduce patients’ suffering
‧ Edited work with chapters authored by leaders in the field around the globe – the broadest, most expert coverage available