Conceptual models of how pain is created influence medical practice, neuroscientific research, and philosophical ideas about pain and other neurological functions. Given the broad scope of pain experiences, realistic models of pain neurobiology must consider the correlation between pain and tissue damage and how it is strongly affected by neurological disease, emotionally compelling circumstances, and by complex cognitive processes. Recent discoveries have made it clear that both sensory and affective systems are strongly modulated by activity in other sensory pathways and by affective and cognitive processes originating in the brain. As a result, pain should then be conceived as emerging from the conjoint activity of both sensory and affective neural systems, each becoming a target for pain treatment. Historically, pain has been conceived as emerging either from an undefined pattern of neural activity or from anatomically and physiologically unique structures in the nervous system. Observations made during the early and mid- 20th century showed that pain and pain-like behaviors normally require not only sensory detectors of noxious events (called nociceptors) but also brain affective (hedonic) mechanisms that generate emotional experience and expression. In Chasing Pain, pain specialists and neuroscientists will find a thoughtful discussion of the neuroscientific and clinical evidence that has led to contemporary concepts of pain neurobiology and how pain might emerge from neuronal activity. Written in a concise and annotated format, Doctor Kenneth Casey reveals that while contemporary research has greatly enriched our model of pain neurobiology, several important and therapeutically challenging clinical conditions remain poorly understood.

Chronic pain has a multitude of causes, many of which are not well understood or effectively treated by medical therapies. Individuals with chronic pain often report that pain interferes with their ability to engage in occupational, social, or recreational activities. Their inability to engage in these everyday activities may contribute to increased isolation, negative mood, and physical deconditioning, which in turn can contribute to their experience of pain.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been proven effective at managing various chronic pain conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, and tension/migraine headache. CBT engages patients in an active coping process aimed at changing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that can serve to maintain and exacerbate the experience of chronic pain. Managing Chronic Pain, Therapist Guide distills many of these empirically validated techniques into one convenient volume that no clinician can do without. Each session presents the basic methods of a technique, such as stress management, sleep hygiene, relaxation therapy, and cognitive restructuring.
Designed to be used in conjunction with the corresponding workbook, this therapist guide offers a complete treatment program. It provides session outlines, sample dialogues, and homework assignments for each technique, as well as addresses assessment and relapse. This CBT program can be used for the successful management of chronic pain, helping patients regain control of their lives.

Rainer Thiele beschaftigt sich in diesem Buch mit der Chiropraktik und untersucht dabei zwei Fragestellungen: Ist chiropraktische Behandlung bei unteren Ruckenschmerzen ein erfolgreicher Therapieansatz? Ist chiropraktische Behandlung bei Kopfschmerzen eine Standardtherapie? Zur Thematik Chiropraktik bei unteren Ruckenschmerzen wurde mittels neuester randomisierten klinischen Studien ein Kongress-Abstract veroeffentlicht, welches als Posterbeitrag zum 16. Kongress fur Versorgungsforschung in Berlin diskutiert wurde. Eine systematische UEbersichtsarbeit beantwortet die Frage zum Thema chiropraktische Behandlung bei Kopfschmerzen. Der Autor Rainer Thiele verfasste diese Arbeit im Rahmen seines Doktoratsstudiums im Fach Medizinwissenschaften an der UFL (Private Universitat Liechtenstein) als kumulative Dissertation. Er ist Geschaftsfuhrer der Gemeinschaftspraxis fur amerik. Chiropraktik/Osteopathie und Sportheilkunde in Munchen.