EXPRESSING PAIN - THE COMMUNICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FACIAL-PAIN SIGNALS

This article reviews recent theory and research on the origins, nature, and meaning of facial expressions of pain. A general model of pain expression, distinguishing experiential, encoding, and decoding processes involved in pain episodes, is proposed. Variables which are known to or may affect these processes are reviewed. Relationships between elements of the model and clinical phenomena of interest to health-care workers are discussed. The implications of findings in this area for health-care workers are examined. Areas in need of research are identified.