Pain: A Medical And Anthropological Challenge Proceedings Of The First Convention Of The Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica Bonn, September 25-28, 1985 (acta Neurochirurgica Supplement)

The First Convention of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica was devoted to one of the main problems not only of medicine in general and especially of neurosurgery but also of theology and anthropology. Many of these aspects have been discussed. Experts in the fields of biological and neurosciences, representatives of different religions and philosophers have contributed to a better un­ derstanding of the somatic aspects of pain and its medical treatment and of its religious, cultural, and philosophical interpretations and interactions. It really was a unique event to bring together scientists and physicians, priests, theologians and philosophers, make them give reviews of their fields and have them discussing the many facets of pain and suffering. To achieve such a difficult goal was mainly the achievement of the late Hans Werner Pia, the first President of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica and organizer of this Convention. Because the Convention is inseparably related to the Inauguration of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica the speeches and lectures given on this occasion and dealing with the aim of the Academia, the founding of Academies in history and with the anthropological challenge of pain are also published in this Supplement Volume of Acta Neurochirurgica. The Convention and the Inauguration of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica are a fitting memorial to the personality of Hans Werner Pia. Its proceedings are dedicated to him. Front Matter....Pages i-vii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-3 Cytochemical Studies of the Neural Circuitry Underlying Pain and Pain Control....Pages 5-15 Neuronal Mechanisms of Pain with Special Emphasis on Visceral and Deep Somatic Pain....Pages 16-32 The Role of Substance P and Other Neuropeptides in Transmission of Pain....Pages 33-35 Opiates, Opioids and Their Receptors in the Modulation of Pain....Pages 36-40 Nonopioid Analgesics....Pages 40-40 Central Analgesics....Pages 41-43 Drug Abuse: Control Through National and International Regulatory Practice....Pages 44-49 Evaluation of Antinociceptive, Reinforcing and Aversive Properties of Psychotropic Agents and Analgesics in Animals: Models for Prediction of Their Analgesic Activity and Dependence Liability....Pages 50-63 Central and Peripheral Electrical Stimulation of the Nervous System in the Treatment of Chronic Pain....Pages 64-75 Externally Portable and Implantable Devices for Continuous Delivery of Analgetics....Pages 76-79 Spinal Infusion of Opiates and Somatostatin....Pages 80-81 Acupuncture Analgesia....Pages 82-85 Neurosurgical Treatments of Pain—a General Survey....Pages 86-96 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Introduction....Pages 99-100 Psychological Determinants in Chronic Pain....Pages 101-104 Sociopsychosomatic Aspects of Individual, Familial and National Suffering and Pain....Pages 105-110 Psychological Therapy of Pain....Pages 111-113 Difficulties in Psychotherapy of Victims of Man-Made Disasters....Pages 114-116 Models of Pain and Suffering: Foundations for an Ethic of Compassion....Pages 117-122 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 The Interpretation of Pain: the Point of View of Catholic Theology....Pages 123-126 About Anthropology of Pain: View of Protestant Theology....Pages 127-128 Pain and Suffering: Views of Jewish Theology....Pages 129-131 Pain: Points of View of Islamic Theology....Pages 132-135 Hindu Philosophy on Pain: an Outline....Pages 136-146 A Chinese Perspective on Pain....Pages 147-151 Pain and Japanese Zen....Pages 152-153 Pain Understanding and Suffering Considered by an Agnostic....Pages 154-156 Pain: a Case Study for the Mind-Body Problem....Pages 157-164 Cultural-Historical Aspects of Pain....Pages 165-181 Pain and Language....Pages 182-184 Pain Understanding and Treatment—an Interdisciplinary Challenge....Pages 185-187 Front Matter....Pages 189-189 The Aims of the Academy....Pages 191-193 The Anthropological Challenge of Pain....Pages 194-195 Non solum gloria....Pages 196-199 The book gives a survey of the medical, philosophical and religious aspects of chronic pain and suffering. Experts in the fields of neuropharmacology, anaesthesiology, psychology and psychotherapy, neurology and neurosurgery as well as representatives of the main world religions and of different philosophical directions were brought together during the First Convention of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica in September 1985, and discussed the various aspects of pain and suffering, including the possibilities for treatment. The combination of religious, philosophical and medical facets of pain means a new approach to better understanding of the problems related to pain and suffering