D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology) / Chronic pain affects 11%of the adult population and acute pain affects a further 5% at any given time, (France, & Krishnan, 1988). An estimated 65 000 people in the United States of America suffer from permanent disabilities caused from back injuries alone. 1% of the population is considered to be totally disabled from chronic pain annually, (Mayer, Gatchell, Mayer, Kishino, & Mooney, 1987). "Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage" (LA.S.P. Subcommittee on Taxonomy, Pain Terms; A list of definitions and notes on usage. In Pain, Q(1979), 24,2 - 252). Persistent pain is one of the most frequently presented complaints seen in a medical setting, yet is one of the most difficult symptoms to treat because of the etiologies and individualised responses to pain - Successful intervention generally leads to resolution of the pain complaint, however in some cases, the pain continues. It is ironic that in an age of advanced medical technology, success often hinges on the relief of a symptom which cannot really be measured, seen, percussed or palpated. In order for this to be possible, a comprehensive understanding of pain as seen from all perspectives and theories available must be investigated and presented. The concept of pain and its puzzling phenomenology has been recognised since antiquity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:4612 |
| Date | 02 April 2014 |
| Creators | Mahrt, Ingeborg |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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