What three factors are important in understanding pain?
- Biomedical (organic pathology and nature of phys experience)
- Psychosocial (cog, em)
- Behavioural
What is nociceptive pain?
Pain detected in either body’s soft tissues or organs by sensory nerves (called nociceptors)
e.g. fibromyalgia, endometriosis
What is neuropathic pain?
Caused by malfunctioning nerves.-> spontaneous transmission of pain signals to spinal cord and brain.
e.g. phantom-limb pain
What is psychogenic pain?
cause by psychological disorder
What is idiopathic pain?
no known phys or psych cause. Can’t be traced to other types
What is the gate-control theory?
Melzack & Wall 1960’s
Pain messages encounter “nerve gates” in spinal cord before reaching brain. Open/close depending on factors. IF get through pain experienced if not may not be experienced
What factors may let nerve-gates open/close?
Open: phys factors (bodily injury), em factors (anxiety), behavioural (atening to injury/concentrating)
Close: phys (analgesic), Em (good mood), Behavioural (concentrating elsewhere)
What sort of nerve fibres carry pain information?
Small
