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.
Dr Anna A. Battaglia, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Currently a Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy & Human Sciences at King's College London. Research interests include: Chronic pain; Eph Receptors and ephrins; Biopsychosocial models of chronic pain.
Her research experience has led her to developing new ideas in the pedagogy of Neuroscience and of scientific disciplines in general. She runs a third year undergraduate module called: Perspectives on Nervous System disorders. I am also setting up a "Pain Scenario" for MBBS2 students on the Neurobiology of Pain and on the interdisciplinary management of chronic pain syndromes, with the aim to fill a gap in the undergraduate medical education.