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Does the IASP definition of pain need updating?

Pain Rep. 2019 Aug 13;4(5):e777. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000777. eCollection 2019 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

The current IASP definition of pain has come under renewed criticisms recently. There is a new momentum for its revision as reflected by the fact that IASP has now a Presidential Task Force dedicated to look into whether there is enough warrant to update the definition. I critically review all the major criticisms of the current definition in detail, and raise new difficulties rarely discussed before. I show that none of the major criticisms has enough warrant to force us to substantially revise the current definition. Combined with the discussion of the new difficulties, there is nonetheless a need to restate the definition using slightly different terminology that will make the original intent of the current definition clearer and more precise. A restatement of the definition is proposed and its potential is discussed in light of some empirical questions that remain.

Keywords: IASP definition of pain; Taxonomy.

Publication types

  • Review