title: Proceedings of the CHANGE PAIN Expert Summit in Rome, June 2010.
abstract: Chronic non-cancer pain - unlike acute pain, which can be regarded as a symptom of disease or injury - is gaining recognition as a disease in its own right. It is a burden for the individual sufferer that has a severe impact on physical and social functioning. Chronic back pain, in particular, is a highly prevalent condition that has a considerable economic impact on society. However, treatment approaches for severe chronic non-cancer pain differ widely. The CHANGE PAIN initiative aims to enhance the understanding of patients who suffer from severe chronic pain and to improve pain management. The following special supplement, consisting of 10 commentaries, describes the proceedings from the first international Expert Meeting of the CHANGE PAIN initiative, which was held in Rome on June 20th and 21st, 2010.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Giustino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Varrassi
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collett
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morlion
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalso
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dickenson
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pergolizzi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller-Schwefe
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy