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A semiotic perspective on chronic pain: Implications for the interaction between patient and physician
Author(s) -
Priel Beatrice,
Rabinowitz Betty,
Pels Richard J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of medical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 0007-1129
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1991.tb01643.x
Subject(s) - semiotics , perspective (graphical) , psychology , psychotherapist , chronic pain , psychoanalysis , psychiatry , epistemology , philosophy , art , visual arts
A semiotic conceptualization of pain in the chronic pain syndrome is proposed. It is suggested that among chronic pain patients pain ceases to be an icon or an index and acquires a symbolic structure: this transformation interferes with the usual patient‐physician relationship. The semiotic perspective on the structure of meaning in the chronic pain syndrome underlines the need to include a psychotherapeutic approach in the patient‐physician relationship; specific aspects of the approach to chronic pain as a symbolic communication are discussed.