The Journal of Pain
Volume 10, Issue 11 , Pages 1113-1120, November 2009

How Neuroimaging Studies Have Challenged Us to Rethink: Is Chronic Pain a Disease?

  • Irene Tracey

      Affiliations

    • Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics and Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, England, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Irene Tracey, Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics and Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, OX3 9DU, England, UK.
    • ,
  • M. Catherine Bushnell

      Affiliations

    • Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationM. Catherine Bushnell, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University Street, Room M19, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2.

Abstract 

In this review, we present data from functional, structural, and molecular imaging studies in patients and animals supporting the notion that it might be time to reconsider chronic pain as a disease. Across a range of chronic pain conditions, similar observations have been made regarding changes in structure and function within the brains of patients. We discuss these observations within the framework of the current definition of a disease.

Perspective

Neuroimaging studies have made a significant scientific impact in the study of pain. Knowledge of nociceptive processing in the noninjured and injured central nervous system has grown considerably over the past 2 decades. This review examines the information from these functional, structural, and molecular studies within the framework of a disease state.

Key words: Chronic pain, disease, neuroimaging, central nervous system

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 Editor's Note: This article is 1 in a series of invited Critical Review articles designed to celebrate The Journal of Pain's 10th year anniversary of publication.

PII: S1526-5900(09)00712-3

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2009.09.001

The Journal of Pain
Volume 10, Issue 11 , Pages 1113-1120, November 2009

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