Central Sensitization: A Brief Overview

This article introduces a SPECIAL ISSUE of the Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research on Central Sensitization (CS). First, a general overview of CS is provided, including some historical perspective, the prevalence of CS in various chronic pain disorders, and common ways of measuring CS and related symptoms. Then a brief summary of each contributing article to this SPECIAL ISSUE is provided. Article topics include: CS-related neurobiology; diagnostic phenotyping; a biopsychosocial perspective of CS-related disorders; use of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI); evaluation of CS and related symptoms in some specific disorders (including general chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and breast cancer survivors); and how the concept of CS has changed our current view of chronic pain.