This book is an extension of my 1992 book entitled The Social Context of Chronic Pain Sufferers. Many ideas nominally explored there are elaborated in this volume, which is an attempt to fill a major gap in the chronic pain literature. Although there has been a virtual flood of new works on the medical and psychological aspects of chronic pain, such enthusiasm is somewhat muted in relation to the social environment of the patient. Although there is universal recognitionamongpain expertsthat biological, psychological, and socialfactors influence the experience ofpain, the social component...

Readers have access to legions of books dealing with the molecular, genetic, neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, neuroradiological and psychological aspects of pain as well as with the clinical approaches to pain from various medical disciplines. Why then is it necessary to publish a book on the pathophysiologyofpain perception? Pain can result either from noxious events due to lesions, injuries, diseases, etc., or from disturbances in the system transducing, transforming, and processing the potential pain signal or from an interaction of both. Under certain pathological...

TItis volume is the first effort to compile representative work in the emerging research area on the relationship of disability and physical environment since Barrier-Free Environments, edited by Michael Bednar, was published in 1977. Since that time, disability rights legislation like the Americans, with Disabilities Act in the United States, the worldwide growth of the independent-living move- ment, rapid deinstitutionalization, and the maturation of functional assessment methodology have all had their impact on this research area. The impact has been most noticeable in two ways-fostering...

This volume addresses the promise and challenges of employment, service roles and contexts in rehabilitation and mental health practice, developing readiness for employment, sustaining employment, and responding to the needs of people coping with a range of disabilities. The book is relevant to the education of human service professionals, and will enable practitioners to expand their awareness, understanding, and knowledge of the interface of rehabilitation and mental health.