CANCER PAIN - RESEARCH FROM MULTIDIMENSIONAL AND ILLNESS REPRESENTATION MODELS

Cancer pain is a widespread problem that impacts the quality of life of a significant proportion of patients with various types of cancer. Despite recognition of the complex nature of cancer pain, the bulk of the research in the area continues to be conducted from a biomedical perspective. Two models have been applied to pain in general and cancer pain in particular. the multidimensional model and the illness representation model. The multidimensional model provides an overarching framework with which to conceptualize the multiple components of cancer pain (physiological, sensory, behavioral, affective, cognitive, sociocultural) whereas the illness representation model focuses on patients' models of illness and the manner in which these models influence perception and behavior. The purpose of the current manuscript is to integrate research from multidimensional and illness representation models of pain and provide suggestions for future research.