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Aten Primaria. 2020 Apr;52(4):267-272. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2019.10.003. Epub 2019 Dec 28.

[The body hurts, and what about social pain? Does it hurts too?].

Atencion primaria

[Article in Spanish]
Yolanda Pérez Martín, Milagros Pérez Muñoz, David García Ares, Isabel Fuentes Gallardo, Isabel Rodríguez Costa

Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España; Centro de Salud Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España; Centro de Salud Miguel de Cervantes, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.
  3. Centro de Salud Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España; Centro de Salud Los Cármenes, Madrid, España.
  4. Centro de Salud Juan de Austria, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España; Clínica de Fisioterapia ALFIX, Alovera, Guadalajara, España.
  5. Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.

PMID: 31892425 PMCID: PMC7118561 DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2019.10.003

Abstract

This paper studies the concept of «social pain» and its relationship with physical pain. An in-depth review of its physiology has been carried out, including similarities and differences in processing with relation to physical pain, as well as the interactions between both processes. Social pain is defined as an unpleasant emotional experience which is triggered when the individual feels excluded or rejected by people or social groups with whom they wish have a relationship. This perceived situation produces the same feelings of suffering as that of physical pain. This kind of pain is processed in the same brain areas as physical pain in its affective dimension. It may be revived mentally, even though the interpersonal conflictive situation may have ended long ago. Both types of pain are sources of stress. The confluence of both situations in the same individual adds complications and more pressure to that which is already exerted separately by both stressing factors. This circumstance must be taken into account when dealing with patients with chronic pain.

Copyright © 2019. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Dolor crónico; Dolor social; Mental health; Pain perception; Percepción del dolor; Salud mental; Social pain

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