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April 17, 2015
This course will define and differentiate the experience of pain. The neurophysiology of both acute and chronic pain will be described. The role of opiate and other medications in the management of pain will be presented. A review the gate-control theory and the information theory of chronic pain will be presented. The problem of addiction and pain management will be discussed along with a discussion of the pros and cons of medical marijuana. Finally, the course will review various approaches to pain management beginning with a discussion of pain assessment techniques and moving to cognitive behavior therapy. Presurgical psychological assessment will also be presented in relation to surgical interventions for chronic pain. Post surgical adjustment will also be covered.