Handbook for pain management

This is a quick-reference handbook which features practical "how-to" pain management strategies for all patient populations. The guide aims to provide a thorough understanding of the use of medications - from basic psychology to the management of acute and chronic pain, patient assessment, the most appropriate interventions for each patient and alternative routes and non-pharmacologic interventions. The book also provides a clear understanding of the relationship of drugs and their physiological actions within the nervous system and includes pharmacology guidelines for both opioids and nonopioids and decision-making guidelines with rationales. The specifics of pain management for different population groups are dealt with in separate chapters - the elderly, infants and children, substance abusers, cancer and AIDS patients - these provide an overview, diagrams or monographs, reviews of specific situations and a clinical accountability summary. Emphasis is place on physician/nurse communication and collaboration as the key to developing effective pain manangement plans and examples, case studies and tables are used to illustrate principles and practices.