[Drug Strategies in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Fokus on Hyperalgesic Effective Strategies].

Throughout Europe, chronic pain syndromes occur with a point prevalence of about 20%, with somatic, psychological, and social factors playing a significant role for their development. Therefore, a careful evaluation of the interaction of these factors is the decisive step for a successful therapy. New insights into pathophysiological processes associated with chronic pain have led to an increasing differentiation of drug and non-drug strategies. These strategies take individual factors into account and aim on influencing the neural network for chronic pain. The drugs used are chosen on the basis of pathophysiological findings and specific drug effects. Adjunctive agents are often used in the management of chronic pain. Knowledge of anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic drugs such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants increases continuously and is therefore presented in more detail in the present study. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.