H.K. Beecher's work (1959) and how pain can be affected by a person's mental state

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

Effect of an individual's mental state on Pain3

Occurrence of pain without stimulus of the skin7

Psychogenic pain8

Physiological and psychological aspects of perceptual functioning10

Conclusion11

References13

H.K. Beecher's work (1959) and how pain can be affected by a person's mental state

Introduction

Traditionally, physicians and doctors have believed that painful feelings emerge from excessive stimulation of the same physical receptors that inform humans on the state of one's body and the outside world. However, the medical landscape is quickly changing and researchers have established that there are psychological aspects of pain. This paper will explore the role that the mind plays in enhancing and alternatively alleviating pain.

Discussion

Effect of an individual's mental state on Pain

Pain is an unpleasant, yet subjective experience and the most common reason which compels individuals to visit doctors and physicians. This observation is far from surprising since one of the main functions of pain is to inform humans that something is physiologically wrong and hence threatens the very essence of the physical integrity of individuals (Linton 2005).

Traditionally, physicians and doctors have believed that painful feelings emerge from excessive stimulation of the same physical receptors that inform humans on the state of one's body and the outside world. This scenario is valid; however only to a certain extent. Pain is not only the result of chemical processes related to the particular organs; rather it is much more than that. The investigation of pain and body is incomplete without the inclusion and a comprehensive study of the mind and/or brain. The process of alerting the brain of the dangers of a painful stimulus is very different from the information about the presence of an innocuous tactile stimulus. This paradigm is commonly known as the perception of pain or nociceptors and depends on the receptors and pathways that connect with the brain.

Before proceeding on with the paper, it is imperative to establish a clear distinction between pain and the perception of pain. Pain is the subjective sensation which encompasses a painful or unbearable throbbing from a body part; while the perception of pain is an elaborative sensory process which initiates nerve signals that eventually triggers pain. Therefore perception of pain is the presence of conditions and processes that detect potentially harmful feelings or sensations and alarm the sensory or nerve system in a conscious state (Thernstrom 2010).

However it should be noted that both of the conditions, i.e. pain and perception of pain can be dissociated in some situations. For example, sometimes nociceptors are activated without pain. Similarly, an emotion or intense stress can make individuals painless despite the absence of any serious injury.

The paradigm of pain is very broad and profound. Pain is not always directly proportional to the severity of illness. On one hand, some types of cancer do not cause pain until the disease is at an advanced stage. On the other hand, relatively mild problems like kidney stones can be extremely painful (Lautenbacher & Fillingim ...