Time: 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Location: Dental Sciences Building, Room D7-11
An important question related to the development of chronic pain is the role played by events that occur early in life. Evidence has shown that early life injuries can result in plastic changes in developing pain pathways. Psychosocial factors associated with childhood stress may also contribute to the development of chronic pain. How these two factors interact and whether the critical period for their impact extends to events that occur later in life is largely unknown. Without question there are a number of systems affected by early life stressors which can lead to altered behavioral and physiological responses in adulthood. Recognition of these factors may be helpful in the design of prevention and treatment strategies. Given the prevalence of chronic pain and the economic burden on society a case could be made that a better understanding of the factors contributing to the development of chronic pain is needed. The role of early life experiences raises many questions and provides the opportunity for what should be an interesting discussion that will be led by Dr. Jeff Boissenault.
prenatal programming, ejn12414, Bartholomeusz et al 2013