Based on qualitative and quantitative studies in the United States and Puerto Rico, this book demonstrates the significant effects of patients' and health providers' ethnic and cultural backgrounds on the chronic pain experience. A biocultural model from medical anthropology is used to contribute to a better understanding of the interaction of biology and culture in human pain perception. In the studies described, the factors most often associated with successful adjustment to chronic pain are not biomedical but cultural, psychosocial, or the cultural, political, and economic contexts of medical care, compensation and rehabilitation. Truly multi-disciplinary chronic pain treatment programs must be staffed by providers knowledgeable in cultural relativity and cultural self-awareness and should integrate a cultural assessment with an individualized rehabilitation and biopsychosocial treatment plan for each patient.

In the studies described, the factors most often associated with successful adjustment to chronic pain are not biomedical but cultural, psychosocial, or the cultural, political, and economic contexts of medical care, compensation and rehabilitation.

This is designed as a textbook for medical practitioners preparing for higher qualification examinations in pain medicine, as well as a reference book for other medical and allied healthcare workers. A unique feature of the book is its multidisciplinary approach to manage pain. This is reflected by the contributors' multi-national/cultural origin and the diversity in their medical background (anaesthesiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, clinical oncology, clinical psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy). Essential topics in pain medicine are grouped under five sections: scientific basis of pain medicine, common clinical pain conditions, pain pharmacology, interventional procedures, and multidisciplinary approach. Different aspects and approaches in modern pain medicine are covered, including advances in research on pain mechanism, pain psychology, epidemiology, diagnosis, pain assessment, patient evaluation, pain medications, up-to-date interventional procedures, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other specialized therapeutic modalities. Besides the above topics, which assist the patient in fighting acute, chronnic, and cancer pain, there are two chapters dedicated to paediatric and geriatric patients respectively, as special consideration is need for these age groups.

In this state-of-theart volume, culture is placed in the forefront of studying pain in an integrative manner. The authors put forth that a patient's culture should be studied with the purpose of unveiling its effects upon biological systems and the pain neuromatrix.

As medical knowledge advances we tend to compartmentalise our specialties into smaller units; but, hand in hand with this, there is a growing understanding between the different disciplines within the caring professions. Thus we are able to share our special skills to the benefit of patients. This book is an excellent example of the advantage of interdisciplinary communication and demonstrates a refreshing holistic approach to the problems of incontinence and pelvic pain. Written with physiotherapists in mind, the editors have invited contributions from many distinguished experts in their own field. These have been compiled into a comprehensive book, which will appeal to many healthcare professionals. I have had great pleasure in reading this book. During the time that I have been involved with 'pelvic dysfunction' there have been many exciting advances. These are all included in a most readable sequence, some presented with a refreshing new twist. In particular, I would like to bring to your attention the section on 'pelvic pain'. Because of our lack of understanding it has been a problem that is too often ignored and here at last are some practical ideas for therapeutic management. There is still much progress to be made in the field of incontinence and pelvic pain and as yet, no editors can be expected to produce a definitive work. However, I would like to recommend this book most strongly. It has a new approach to this topic, which is still a major problem for many people.

Pain is the most frequent cause of disability in America. And pain specialists estimate that as many as thirty to sixty million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon—often extremely difficult to treat, and surprisingly difficult to define. Just as medical literature in general neglects the experience of illness, so the clinical literature on pain neglects the experience of pain. "Camp Pain" takes an approach different from most studies of chronic pain, which are typically written from a medical or social perspective. Based on a year's fieldwork in a pain treatment center, this book focuses on patients' perspectives—on their experiences of pain, what these experiences mean to them, and how this meaning is socially constructed. Jackson explores the psychological burden imposed on many sufferers when they are judged not to have "real" pain, and by harsh moral judgments that sufferers are weak, malingering, or responsible in some way for their pain. Jackson also looks at the ways in which severe pain erodes and destroys personal identity, studying in particular the role of language. While keeping her focus on patients' experiences, Jackson explores Western concepts of disease, health, mind, and body; assumptions about cause and effect; and notions of shame, guilt, and stigma. "Camp Pain" does not attempt to resolve the uncertainties and misperceptions associated with pain but rather aims at enhancing our understanding of the wider implications of chronic pain by focusing on the sufferers themselves.

Culture and Mental Health takes a critical look at the research pertaining to common psychological disorders, examining how mental health can be studied from and vary according to different cultural perspectives. Introduces students to the main topics and issues in the area of mental health using culture as the focus Emphasizes issues that pertain to conceptualization, perception, health-seeking behaviors, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in the context of cultural variations Reviews and actively encourages the reader to consider issues related to reliability, validity and standardization of commonly used psychological assessment instruments among different cultural groups Highlights the widely used DSM-IV-TR categorization of culture-bound syndromes