1. Basic Physiology of Pain Perception -- to Nociception, Acute and Chronic Pain -- Animal Studies on Nociception and Pain -- The Peripheral Nociceptive System -- The Central Pain System -- The Physiology of Nociceptive Processing in the CNS -- References -- 2. Assessment of Pain Perception -- Experimental Methods For Pain Induction -- Experimental Methods of Pain Assessment -- Summary -- References -- 3. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Primary Headache: Migraine, Tension-type, and Cluster Headaches -- Epidemiology -- Pain and Functional Impairment -- Psychological Antecedents, Causes and Sequels -- Muscle Tension and Vascular Reactions -- Central Factors -- Disturbance of Pain Perception -- Summary -- References -- 4. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Chronic Back Pain -- Description of the Disorder -- Disturbances in Pain Perception -- Conclusions and Implications -- References -- 5. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Fibromyalgia -- Description of the Syndrome -- Disturbance of Pain Perception -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 6. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Myofascial Pain Syndrome and other Musculoskeletal Pains -- Definition of MPS -- General Characteristics of MPS -- Trigger Points in MPS -- Referred Pain in Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions -- Hyperalgesia in Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions -- Summary -- References -- 7. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Temporomandibular Pain Syndrome -- Epidemiology -- Classification -- Contrasting Concepts -- Regional or Widespread Disorder -- Response to Non-Noxious Stimuli -- Hypervigilance -- Experimental Models of TMD -- Studies of Neurotransmitters -- Response to Stress -- Overview -- References -- 8. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Irritable Bowel Syndrome -- Definition and Clinical Presentation -- Epidemiology -- IBS as a Neurologic Disorder -- Animal Models of Persistent Pain State Mechanisms -- Human Neural Imaging Studies of Persistent Pain Conditions -- Somatic Pain Testing in IBS Patients -- Serotonin and IBS -- Psychological Factors in IBS -- Conclusions -- References -- 9. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Menstrual Cycle-Related Disorders -- Pain Perception Across the Menstrual Cycle -- Dysmenorrhea -- Premenstrual Syndrome -- Menstrual Cycle Influences on Other Chronic Pain Disorders -- Conclusions -- References -- 10. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Disorders of the Peripheral Nervous System -- Diabetic Polyneuropathy -- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) -- Herpes Zoster -- Trigeminal Neuralgia -- Lumbosacral Radiculopathy -- References -- 11. Disturbances of Pain Perception in Disorders of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System -- General Considerations -- The Clinical Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pain -- Syndromes which may be Accompanied by Neuropathic Pain -- References -- 12. Pain Perception in Psychiatric Disorders -- Anxiety -- Schizophrenia -- Depression -- Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa -- Borderline Personality Disorder -- References -- 13. Alterations in Pain Perception in Cardiovascular Disease -- Cardiovascular Variables and Pain Perception -- Mechanisms of Blood Pressure-Related Hypoalgesia -- Pain Perception in Coronary Artery Disease and Other Cardiac Diseases -- Conclusions and Future Directions -- References -- 14. Perception of Pain during Pregnancy and Labor -- Physiological Changes During Pregnancy -- Pain and Discomfort in Pregnancy -- Physiology of Labor -- Labor Pain -- Memory for Labor Pain -- Factors Affecting Pain during Labor -- The Effect of Acupuncture on Pain and Use of Analgesics during Labor -- The Role of Endogenous Opioids in Pain Processing during Pregnancy and Labor 206 -- Experimental Studies of Pain Perception in Pregnancy and Labor -- Conclusion -- References -- 15. The Importance of Quantitative Sensory Testing in the Clinical Setting -- Applications of QST -- Advantages and Disadvantages of QST -- Is QST Clinically Relevant? -- Future Directions for Clinical Applications of QST -- References.