[Developments in pain therapy in Germany: from neglected symptom to major health issue]

Modern pain therapy began with the discovery of morphine by Sertürner in 1803. The following continuous introduction of new analgesics promised an end of pain as a bane of mankind. Reality, however, soon proved different. Today patients with chronic pain rather than those with acute pain are in the focus of pain therapy. Only since the beginning of interdisciplinary treatment including psychological and psychosomatic approaches progress has been achieved in chronic pain. The first specialised pain clinic opened by Bonica in the USA and the founding of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) have been milestones in the treatment of chronic pain. Today several associations and societies are active promoting both the needs of patients suffering from chronic pain and the needs of the professionals treating pain patients. Although recently physicians can qualify in specialised pain therapy there are still by far too few specialists to provide sufficient care for all chronic pain patients in Germany.