Pain, Affect, Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, and Chronic Pain: Bringing Order to Disorder

Abstract

In this chapter, we offer a nonlinear dynamical systems perspective on the development of chronic pain (see also Young and Chapman, 2006). We incorporate the simpler understanding of systems, as “the whole being greater than the sum of the parts,” into contemporary systems theory. We consider systems theory both in terms of its original expression as chaos theory and more advanced versions related to complexity theory. By framing chronic pain within the perspective of nonlinear dynamical systems theory, a transdisciplinary model, some phenomena that are difficult to explain in terms of other models become more transparent, revealing the multifactorial nature of pain. We grant that nonlinear dynamical systems theory is not easy to understand in its details, although systems theory in general has an intuitive appeal. Therefore, theorists, assessors, and practitioners alike need to study and integrate this approach into their work with chronic pain patients. Moreover, the model is consistent with the theme of this book, and with forensic psychology, in general, because it provides a multicausal understanding of chronic pain. Williams and Arrigo (2002) have applied chaos and complexity theory to forensic psychology, examining areas such as dangerousness and its prediction, civil commitment, and the right to refuse mental health treatment. However, the work does not address specific conditions such as chronic pain.