The Neuroscience of Pain, Anesthetics, and Analgesics

The Neuroscience of Pain, Anesthetics and Analgesics examines the syndromes of pain  and how they interlink with anesthesia and analgesics. The book covers assessments, screening and resources, and provides applications to related areas of medicine. It explores how the perception of pain results from a multifaceted interaction between illness beliefs, age, gender, time of onset, stress, socioeconomic status, and other factors. In addition, it scrutinizes how the neuroscience of pain in one condition may be relevant to understanding pain observed in other conditions. Sections address the onset of pain, the cause of pain, and the administration of analgesia or anesthesia.

The book works to clarify all of the subjects pertinent to anesthesia and the brain.  Featuring chapters on neurotransmitters, pharmacology and brain imaging, this volume discusses the mechanisms of pain and experimental studies undertaken to better understand the pathways involved.

• Includes content on the features and assessments of pain, anesthesia and analgesia
• Provides a mini-dictionary of terms and summary points that succinctly encapsulate each chapter
• Covers a broad range of topics related to the neuroscience of analgesics and anesthetics
• Helps readers navigate key areas for research and further clinical recommendations
• Features chapters on molecular pathways, imaging and a deep look at behavior associated with the experience of pain

Dr Rajkumar Rajendram is a clinician-scientist with expertise in internal medicine, anaesthesia, intensive care and peri-operative medicine. He graduated with distinctions from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School, King’s College London, in 2001, where he received several prizes, merits and distinctions in pre-clinical and clinical subjects.

Dr Rajendram completed specialist training in acute and general medicine in Oxford and subsequently held a Consultant appointment in Acute General Medicine at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. He also trained in anaesthesia and intensive care in London, including advanced training in regional anaesthesia and intensive care, and subsequently held a Consultant appointment in Intensive Care, Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine at the Royal Free London Hospitals.

His postgraduate training has spanned internal medicine, anaesthesia, intensive care and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2009, Fellowship of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in 2013, and the European Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine in 2014. He is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of London.

Dr Rajendram is currently a Consultant at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor in the Research Unit, Department of Medical Education, at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

His multidisciplinary clinical background has informed his research interests in nutrition, fluid management and fluid balance in health and disease, particularly in acutely and critically ill patients. His research has also addressed POCUS, COVID-19 phenotypes and nutritional support in illness. Dr Rajendram has contributed extensively to medical research and education and has authored more than 400 textbook chapters, review articles, peer-reviewed papers and conference abstracts.

Vinood B. Patel, BSc, PhD, FRSC, is Professor in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Westminster. In 2014 Dr Patel was elected as a Fellow to The Royal Society of Chemistry. Dr Patel graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in Pharmacology and completed his PhD in protein metabolism from King’s College London in 1997. His postdoctoral work was carried out at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical School, NC, USA studying structural-functional alterations to mitochondrial ribosomes, where he developed novel techniques to characterize their biophysical properties. Research is being undertaken to study the role of nutrients, antioxidants, phytochemicals, iron, alcohol and fatty acids in the pathophysiology of disease. Other areas of interest are identifying new biomarkers that can be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease and understanding mitochondrial oxidative stress. Dr Patel is a nationally and internationally recognized researcher and has several edited biomedical books related to health and well being These books include Ancient and traditional foods, plants and herbs and spices in human health; coffee in health and disease prevention, Nuts and seeds in health and disease prevention Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions: From Biology to Public Health, tea in health and disease prevention.

Victor R. Preedy, BSc, PhD, DSc, FRSB, FRSPH, FRCPath, FRSC, FRSM, is Professor of Clinical Biochemistry (Hon) at King’s College Hospital and Emeritus Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at King’s College London. He also holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Suffolk and served as the long‑term Director of the Genomics Centre at King’s College London from 2006 to 2020. Professor Preedy graduated with an Honours Degree in Biology and Physiology with Pharmacology and later obtained his PhD from the University of London. He subsequently received Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists and later earned his second doctorate (DSc) in recognition of his contributions to protein metabolism. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, the Royal Society for Public Health, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Professor Preedy has conducted research while affiliated with Imperial College London, the School of Pharmacy (now part of University College London), and the MRC Centre at Northwick Park Hospital. He has collaborated widely with international research groups in Finland, Japan, Australia, the USA, and Germany. His longstanding academic interests include health and well‑being. He has published more than 750 works, including peer‑reviewed research articles, abstracts, symposium presentations, reviews, and edited books.