What Is the Relationship between Pain and Emotion? Bridging Constructs and Communities

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 107; no. 1; pp. 17 - 21
• Main Authors: Gilam, Gadi, Gross, James J., Wager, Tor D., Keefe, Francis J., Mackey, Sean C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 08-07-2020; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: affect; Animal cognition; Behavior; brain; Brain - physiopathology; chronic pain; emotion; Emotions; Emotions - physiology; Humans; interoception; mental health; Nervous system; nociception; noxious; Pain; Pain - psychology; subjective experience; pain; chronic pain; emotion; interoception; affect; mental health; noxious; nociception; subjective experience; brain
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.05.024

Although pain is defined as a sensory and emotional experience, it is traditionally researched and clinically treated separately from emotion. Conceptual and mechanistic relationships between these constructs highlight the need for better understanding of their bi-directional influences and the value of bridging the pain and emotion research and clinical communities.
Despite their inherent connection, pain and emotion remain largely separate at the theoretical, empirical, clinical, and institutional levels. Gilam et al. emphasize that bridging across these levels will advance our understanding of pain and emotion’s normative and pathological manifestations.