Introduction to Pain and its relation to Nervous System Disorders provides an accessible overview of the latest developments in the science underpinning pain research, including, but not limited to, the physiological, pathological and psychological aspects. This unique book fills a gap in current literature by focussing on the intricate relationship between pain and human nervous system disorders such as Autism, Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson s Disease, Depression and Multiple Sclerosis. This fully illustrated, colour handbook will help non-experts, including advanced undergraduate and new postgraduate students, become familiar with the current, wide-ranging areas of research that cover every aspect of the field from chronic and inflammatory pain to neuropathic pain and biopsychosocial models of pain, functional imaging and genetics. Contributions from leading experts in neuroscience and psychiatry provide both factual information and critical points of view on their approach and the theoretical framework behind their choices. An appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of brain imaging technology applied to pain research in humans provides the tools required to understand current cutting edge literature on the topic. Chapters covering placebo effects in analgesia and the psychology of pain give a thorough overview of cognitive, psychological and social influences on pain perception. Sections exploring pain in the lifecycle and in relation to nervous system disorders take particular relevance from a clinical point of view. Furthermore, an intellectually stimulating chapter analysing the co-morbidity of pain and depression provides a philosophical angle rarely presented in related handbooks. The references to external research databases and relevant websites aim to prompt readers to become critical and independent thinkers, and motivate them to carry out further reading on these topics. Introduction to Pain and its relation to Nervous System Disorders is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in neuroscience, medical and biomedical sciences, as well as for clinical and medical healthcare professionals involved in pain management.

Introduction to Pain and its relation to Nervous System Disorders provides an accessible overview of the latest developments in the science underpinning pain research, including, but not limited to, the physiological, pathological and psychological aspects. This unique book fills a gap in current literature by focussing on the intricate relationship between pain and human nervous system disorders such as Autism, Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Depression and Multiple Sclerosis. This fully illustrated, colour handbook will help non-experts, including advanced undergraduate and new postgraduate students, become familiar with the current, wide-ranging areas of research that cover every aspect of the field from chronic and inflammatory pain to neuropathic pain and biopsychosocial models of pain, functional imaging and genetics.Contributions from leading experts in neuroscience and psychiatry provide both factual information and critical points of view on their approach and the theoretical framework behind their choices. An appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of brain imaging technology applied to pain research in humans provides the tools required to understand current cutting edge literature on the topic. Chapters covering placebo effects in analgesia and the psychology of pain give a thorough overview of cognitive, psychological and social influences on pain perception. Sections exploring pain in the lifecycle and in relation to nervous system disorders take particular relevance from a clinical point of view. Furthermore, an intellectually stimulating chapter analysing the co-morbidity of pain and depression provides a philosophical angle rarely presented in related handbooks. The references to external research databases and relevant websites aim to prompt readers to become critical and independent thinkers, and motivate them to carry out further reading on these topics.Introduction to Pain and its relation to Nervous System Disorders is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in neuroscience, medical and biomedical sciences, as well as for clinical and medical healthcare professionals involved in pain management.

List of contributors ixForeword xiiiAcknowledgements xvNotes on authors xviiIntroduction 1Anna A. BattagliaSection I: Neurobiology of pain: Recent advances 111 Anatomy of pain pathways 13Andrew J. Todd2 Spinal plasticity of the nociceptive system: The role of central sensitisation in chronic pain states 35Alban Latrémolière3 Symptoms and pathology in neuropathic pain 89Matthew Thakur and Stephen B. McMahon4 Recent advances in neuroimmune interactions in neuropathic pain: The role of microglia 123Elizabeth A. Old, Louise S. C. Nicol and Marzia Malcangio5 Genetics and epigenetics of pain 149Franziska Denk and Stephen B. McMahon6 The cannabinoid system and its role in nociception 169Massimiliano Beltramo7 EphB receptors and persistent pain 201Isabella GavazziSection II: Pain in the brain 2258 Brain imaging in experimental pain 227Massieh Moayedi and Tim V. Salomons9 Placebo effects in pain 249Luana Colloca, Adam P. Horin and Damien Finniss10 Psychology and pain 267Lance M. McCrackenSection III: Pain in the lifecycle and in nervous system disorders 28111 Pain in neonates and infants 283Fiona Moultrie, Segzi Goksan, Ravi Poorun and Rebeccah Slater12 How do people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience pain? 295Cecile Rattaz, Amandine Dubois and Amaria Baghdadli13 Pain and depression: The janus factor of human suffering 317Angela Iannitelli and Paola Tirassa14 Pain in multiple sclerosis: From classification to treatment 345Claudio Solaro and Michele Messmer Uccelli15 Pain perception in dementia 361Miriam Kunz and Stefan Lautenbacher16 The role of cognitive impairment in the placebo and nocebo effects 373Martina Amanzio17 An overview of pain in Parkinson's disease 387Panagiotis Zis, Elisaveta Sokolov and Kallol Ray ChaudhuriAppendix: Interviews with chronic pain patients 409Index 413