Factors that affect pain behavior.

Emotions can and do affect the way one perceives pain, both acute and chronic. Many factors unconsciously alter the intensity in which pain is perceived even though human beings all have the same anatomical structures to convey nociception to the central nervous system. Pain cannot be measured, only observed by one's behavior to pain. Those who diagnose and treat craniofacial pain quickly realize that many factors in addition to pathological conditions affect patients differently and oftentimes, unpredictably. We, as those who attempt to treat these patients, need to recognize these factors and how they can influence our treatment and a patient's recovery. In this short article, factors that affect pain behavior are described.