Fabrizio Benedetti Livres

Due to the recent explosion of placebo research at many levels the Editors believe that a volume on Placebo would be a good addition to the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology series. In particular, this volume will be built up on a meeting on Placebo which will be held in Tuebingen (Germany) in January 2013, and where the most prominent researchers in this field will present and exchange their ideas. The authors who will be invited to write chapters for this volume will be the very same speakers at this meeting, thus guaranteeing high standard and excellence in the topic that will be treated. The approach of the book is mainly pharmacological, including basic research and clinical trials, and the contents range from different medical conditions and systems, such as pain and the immune system, to different experimental approaches, like in vivo receptor binding and pharmacological/behavioral conditioning. Overall, the volume will give an idea of modern placebo research, of timely concepts in both experimental and clinical pharmacology, as well as of modern methods and tools in neuroscience.

Exploring the intersection of neuroscience and medicine, this book reveals how biological mechanisms shape the doctor-patient relationship. It highlights the significant influence a doctor's behavior can have on a patient's actions and their ability to recover from illness, providing insights into the dynamics of healing and care. Through a combination of research and practical examples, it underscores the importance of understanding these interactions for improved health outcomes.

Analgesics, some of the oldest drugs known, have evolved significantly since their early use by the Sumerians for euphoric effects and the eighteenth-century use of willow bark for fever. Today, they encompass a wide range of substances, including antidepressants and ion channel blockers, with many available over the counter for self-medication. This accessibility has led to analgesics being the most misused drug class, resulting in various health issues due to side effects. This volume summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms behind these drugs, their side effect profiles, and their clinical indications and contraindications. It also explores ongoing research into novel pain generation mechanisms and the development of new modulating compounds, spurred by advancements in molecular methods and the use of animal models focused on pathological pain. The introductory chapter discusses these critical issues, while subsequent chapters emphasize that pain is influenced not only by somatic mechanisms but also by social context, memory, and psychological factors. The book concludes by framing pharmacological strategies within a broader context, highlighting the shift towards mechanism-based approaches in pain treatment rather than purely empirical methods.