The Development of Psychogenic Pain

Abstract

Pain is a complex experience, but it can be better understood when divided into three broad categories: nociceptive pain, caused by tissue damage, neuropathic pain, resulting from nerve damage, and the newly recognized psychogenic pain (also known as nociplastic pain). Nociplastic pain refers to physical pain caused or increased by psychological, emotional, or social factors rather than physical or neurological damage. Nociceptors (i.e. pain receptors) release neurotransmitters to the thalamus and other parts of the brain through the nervous system. Pain manifests as a physical and subjective experience. Despite the lack of a clear physical cause, and though some dismiss it as entirely psychological, psychogenic pain remains a genuine condition as it is both physical and psychological. While there is no clear underlying physical cause, and although some people may discount it being all in a person's head, psychogenic pain is still real.