NCJ Number
171360
Date Published
1997
Length
429 pages
Annotation
This volume is intended to help persons in pain, physicians, and other health care providers to understand the nature of pain, its connection to the emotions and the individual's psychological status, pain treatment, the impacts of specific drugs on the body, and myths about addiction and drugs used for pain treatment.
Abstract
The text notes the prevalence of unrelieved pain due to lack of knowledge, the prescription patterns of physicians, the belief that other health care providers or persons in pain that pain is a manifestation of anxiety, and the concern that taking a narcotic to relieve pain is both morally wrong and medically inappropriate. The first section reviews the anatomical, physiological, and psychological aspects of pain, as well as the basic concepts of drug dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. The second section discusses the pharmacological actions and side effects of individual drugs used to provide or to enhance analgesia. The final section discusses the general principles to be followed in pain management. It also explains ways to treat pain in specific populations, including children, elderly persons, persons with cancer, persons with AIDS, persons tolerant to opioids or dependent on them, and persons with pain of unknown origin. Figures, tables, chapter reference lists, and index