Psychogenic pain syndromes

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months.
It can be:

• moderate or unbearable,

• permanent or episodic,

• one that causes only discomfort, or completely incapacitating.

Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for months or even years. Chronic pain causes many people to lose their jobs, relationships, and the ability to enjoy life.

Causes of chronic pain

1. Chronic diseases : arthritis, cancer, diabetes.

2. Injury : herniated disc, torn ligament.

3. Primary pain syndromes :

   • neuropathic pain

   • chronic headache

   • fibromyalgia

The emotional component of pain

Chronic pain is closely related to psycho-emotional state.
It is strengthened by:

• anxiety

• depression

• anger

• fatigue

• stress

This creates a vicious circle:
Pain → Psychoemotional disorders → Behavioral maladjustment → Social isolation → Increased pain

The psychological nature of pain

In some cases, psychological distress becomes the root cause of pain:

• Somatoform (psychosomatic) disorders

• Demonstrative-hypochondriacal manifestations

• Depression-pain syndrome

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Comprehensive treatment of chronic pain

For effective treatment, it is necessary to influence both physical and psychological factors.

Main methods:

• Psychotherapy (mandatory part of treatment)

• Pharmacotherapy

• Transcranial electrical brain stimulation (TES) — pain relief, anxiety reduction, psychophysiological improvement

• Ketamine-assisted therapy is effective for pain, anxiety, and depression

• Neurohelp brain rehabilitation

• Body-oriented therapy

• Art therapy

The most common pain syndromes we treat are:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• fibromyalgia
• migraine
• chronic pelvic pain