Referred pain of the mind.

Discusses pain due to psychological dysfunction and the problems which confront the general practitioner making the diagnosis. Some of the views expressed by the medical professionals are outmoded. Pain is hardwired into our psychology; young children in a playground argue and cry. Several older women and men recreate a GP consultation in which they recount their problems. Physical and psychological pain presents similarly; women are more common psychological pain sufferers (and in the head versus the torso/trunk) - this is not fully explained. A correlation between being able to article pain and psychological function is made with most patients resistant to accepting a psychological cause. If analgesics do not work, then treatment for depression might. Thereafter psycho-social treatments are explored. Some diagnostic guidelines are given. A reflection on the limited time that a GP has with a patient is a barrier, and effectively how to encourage the patient to make a correlation between their pain and their circumstances.