ABSTRACT
Resumen No obstante, el dolor ha permanecido ligado a la existencia humana y que la asistencia al dolor es una de las principales funciones de los equipos de salud, el dolor psíquico no ha estado presente en la formación médica ni en la investigación. En el presente estudio se plantearon dos preguntas: ¿Cuál es el estado actual de la investigación considerando las perspectivas psicológicas y neurobiológicas del dolor psicológico? y ¿qué lugar ocupa el dolor psicológico en la asistencia actual de los pacientes? Los objetivos fueron: 1) Revisar la significación del dolor en su perspectiva histórica y su relación con la existencia humana; 2) Examinar las bases neurobiológicas del dolor físico y psíquico; 3) Reflexionar acerca del lugar que le cabe al dolor psíquico en los programas de cuidados paliativos del dolor. Como metodología se revisó la literatura publicada en Medline, Scopus y Scielo tomando las palabras claves: Dolor Psíquico, Dolor Mental y Dolor Emocional. Se revisan las razones por las cuales el dolor psíquico ha permanecido postergado, considerando que la experiencia del dolor es una experiencia psíquica debido a que puede haber dolor psíquico sin dolor físico, pero no al revés. El dolor psíquico puede ser tan real como otras formas de dolor más aun considerando que puede ser tan severo como para exponer a una persona al riesgo suicida. Se analizan las estructuras involucradas en el dolor psíquico y físico y se comenta acerca del rol de los médicos en su deber de aliviar el dolor.
Although pain has been present trough human history and that its assistance is one of the most important activities of health teams, psychic pain hasn't been present properly neither in medical education nor research. In order to assess this topic the author has carried out a review following these two questions: What is the state of the art considering psychological and neurobiological perspectives of psychic pain? and which place is occupying psychic pain in the current assistance of patients? The proposed objectives were: 1) To evaluate historical aspects of pain and its place in human life; 2) To evaluate neurobiological basis of psychic and somatic pain and 3) To reflect about the place psychic pain has currently in Paliative Care Programs. The methodology was the review of current literature published in Medline, Scopus and Scielo considering the following key words: Psychological Pain, Mental Pain and Emotional Pain. Special consideration is given to how this topic has been postponed and the reasons for this situation, considering that the whole experience of pain is psychological, as there may be psychical pain without physical pain but not otherwise. Psychic pain is not less real than other kind of pain; it may be even more severe as to put a person at risk of suicide. Mention is made about the boundaries between physical and psychic pain considering that they are not clear, as they involve similar structures. The role of medical doctors in helping to alleviate pain of patients is addressed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Pain , Physicians , Role , Suicide , Nociceptive PainABSTRACT
Edwin S. Shneidman (13-05-1918 - 15-05-2009) is known as the father of contemporary suicidology. His work reflects the intensive study of lives and deaths, especially suicides, and is the mirror to his mind. Few people, like doctor Edwin S. Shneidman, are vouchsafed the rare opportunity to create a new discipline, to name it, to shape it, to contribute to it, and most importantly, to catalyze other competent investigators to invest in it: suicidology. In his reflections, Shneidman does not know whether suicide was looking for him or he was looking for suicide. Part of his motivation on that day in 1949, when he discovered 100's of <
En el año 2003 el suicidio se declaró como un problema de salud pública por la World Health Organization (WHO), y por tanto la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), junto con la Asociación Internacional de Prevención de Suicidio (IASP), declararon al 10 de septiembre como el <