Using rodent models, the contributors explore the basic neurobiology of the relationship among chronic pain, opioid pharmacology, and addiction. Combining various pain models with opioid self-administration and central administration pharmacotherapies allows researchers to answer important questions about:

1. The efficacy of opioid treatment under conditions of chronic pain of different etiology.

2. Alterations in the efficacy of opioid treatment under conditions of long-term opioid pharmacotherapy.

3. The potential for conversion or escalation of extra-analgesic motivation for opioid use beyond that required for pain relief.

4. The possibility of addiction development in chronic pain sufferers.

Merging the field of pain researchers with that of addiction research has presented some unique challenges and this volume seeks to provide some guidance for future study design in addition to a summary of current findings in the area.

Zusammenfassung
Using rodent models, this volume explores the basic neurobiology of the relationship among chronic pain, opioid pharmacology, and addiction.

Inhalt

Opioid and Non-Opioid Drug Responding Under States of Chronic Pain: A Timeline Spanning 1980 to Present Day.- Opioid Self-Administration in the Presence of Chronic Pain: Analgesia or Addiction.- The Influence of Pain on Reward Processing: Current Literature and Prospects.- Chronic Pain Stimuli Downregulate Mesolimbic Dopaminergic Transmission: Possible Mechanism of the Suppression of Opioid Reward.- Drug Addiction and Chronic Pain: A Review of Animal Models.- Biopharmaceutical Considerations of Opioid Analgesics in Models of Self-Administration: Review and Summary.- Prenatal Exposure to Opioids.- Opioids in an Evidence-Based World.