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Pain is Not a "thing": How That Error Affects Language and Logic in Pain Medicine
Milton Cohen1, Asaf Weisman2, John Quintner3
1St Vincent's Clinical Campus, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
The Journal of Pain
|April 15, 2022
Summary
Pain medicine terminology requires clarification. This review identifies conceptual errors and reasoning fallacies in pain literature, highlighting the need for revised language for accurate communication.
Area of Science:
- Medical Communication
- Pain Medicine Terminology
- Scientific Reasoning
Background:
- Effective communication in pain medicine relies on precise language and logical reasoning.
- The pain medicine literature contains numerous examples of imprecision, including misnomers and fallacies.
- Conceptual clarity is essential for accurate academic and clinical discourse in pain medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically examine misnomers and fallacies in pain medicine literature.
- To identify common conceptual errors, such as treating pain as a 'thing' or conflating nociception with pain.
- To highlight the need for revising terminology and concepts in pain medicine for improved accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of commonly used words and constructs in the pain literature.
- Examination of consistency in usage, concordance with fact, degree of speculation, and logical argument.
- Identification of recurring themes in conceptual errors and reasoning fallacies.
Main Results:
- Identified misnomers include conceptualizing pain as a 'thing,' conflating nociception and pain, and confusing stimulus with response.
- Identified fallacies include reification of pain, attributing organism-level functions to the brain, and the illusory truth effect.
- Many constructs in pain medicine are based on speculation rather than established fact.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant need to review and modify terminology and concepts within pain medicine.
- Clarifying language is crucial to address imprecision and confusion in academic and clinical communication.
- Addressing these issues will enhance the logical accuracy and factual basis of pain medicine discourse.
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