title: Do we understand pain from a biopsychosocial perspective? A review and discussion of the usefulness of some pain terms.
abstract: Pain is a biopsychosocial phenomenon and should be assessed and managed from this perspective. However, the dualistic mind-body perspective is still present and affects the way this health situation is addressed. Following this approach, pain can either be attributed to an identifiable cause or considered as 'psychological' pain, for which there is neither an identifiable cause nor adequate treatment. Faced with this situation, first, we introduce some concepts that have been used (and are still frequently being used) to refer to pain with no identifiable cause. Next, we question the usefulness of these 'dualistic terms' and, finally, defend the biopsychosocial perspective to advance in the conceptualization of pain and avoid using terms that can foster a dualistic perspective.
authors.affiliation: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla del Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Imma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beneitez
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla del Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieto
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D057545:Social Stigma; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: biopsychological approach; dualistic perspective; pain; pain terminology