LONG-TERM PAIN THERAPY

In contrast to acute pain, chronic pain develops as a lasting disturba nce of physiological control circuits because of (a) pathological symp athetic and motor reflexes, (b) biochemically induced plastic changes of the CNS with central learning phenomena and (c) psychologically as reaction to the somatic disturbance or as a substitute for intrapsychi c conflicts. Therefore the long-term treatment of chronic pain has to be complex, taking into account not only the reduction of pain, but al so physical functional restoration, psychological stabilisation and so cial rehabilitation.