• Mark A Lumley, Jay L Cohen, George S Borszcz, Annmarie Cano, Alison M Radcliffe, Laura S Porter, Howard Schubiner, and Francis J Keefe.
• Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., 7th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. mlumley@wayne.edu
• J Clin Psychol. 2011 Sep 1; 67 (9): 942-68.

Objective And MethodResearch on emotion and pain has burgeoned. We review the last decade's literature, focusing on links between emotional processes and persistent pain.ResultsNeurobiological research documents the neural processes that distinguish affective from sensory pain dimensions, link emotion and pain, and generate central nervous system pain sensitization. Psychological research demonstrates that greater pain is related to emotional stress and limited emotional awareness, expression, and processing. Social research shows the potential importance of emotional communication, empathy, attachment, and rejection.ConclusionsEmotions are integral to the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of persistent pain. Research should clarify when to eliminate or attenuate negative emotions, and when to access, experience, and express them. Theory and practice should integrate emotion into cognitive-behavioral models of persistent pain.© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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