Cognitive impairment in patients with chronic pain: The significance of stress

Robert P. Hart, James B. Wade, Michael F. Martelli
2003 Current Pain and Headache Reports  
This review article examines the role of emotional distress and other aspects of suffering in the cognitive impairment that often is apparent in patients with chronic pain. Research suggests that pain-related negative emotions and stress potentially impact cognitive functioning independent of the effects of pain intensity. The anterior cingulate cortex is likely an integral component of the neural system that mediates the impact of pain-related distress on cognitive functions, such as the
more » ... tion of attentional resources. A maladaptive physiologic stress response is another plausible cause of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic pain, but a direct role for dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical axis has not been systematically investigated.
doi:10.1007/s11916-003-0021-5 pmid:12628053 fatcat:b7ae4pwstfadtjxshsd3atuotq