Rethinking the Psychogenic Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Somatoform Disorders and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

authors:

avatar Renee J. J. Hill 1 , * , avatar Pradeep Chopra 2 , avatar Toni Richardi 3

Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, rjuliannag@gmail.com, USA
Brown Medical School, Brown University, Rhode Island, USA
Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, USA

how to cite: Hill R J, Chopra P, Richardi T. Rethinking the Psychogenic Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Somatoform Disorders and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Anesth Pain Med. 2012;2(2): 54-59. https://doi.org/10.5812/aapm.7282.

Abstract

Abstract:

Explaining the etiology of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) from the psychogenic model is exceedingly unsophisticated, because neurocognitive deficits, neuroanatomical abnormalities, and distortions in cognitive mapping are features of CRPS pathology. More importantly, many people who have developed CRPS have no history of mental illness. The psychogenic model offers comfort to physicians and mental health practitioners (MHPs) who have difficulty understanding pain maintained by newly uncovered neuro inflammatory processes. With increased education about CRPS through a biopsychosocial perspective, both physicians and MHPs can better diagnose, treat, and manage CRPS symptomatology.

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