Epidemiology is one of those topics about which you listen to a lecture or read an article and then ask, "how does this help me in my practice?" The authors of Epidemiology of Pain are largely successful in making their books relevant to pain specialists. The IASP Press is like a wise parent or mentor that guides us toward information we need that we would not seek out otherwise.
The book covers 3 main areas: an overview of epidemiology, global issues related to the epidemiology of pain, and focus on specific pain diagnoses. The first several chapters give a concise summary of epidemiologic methods and how they relate to common pain problems. The next few chapters address psychological, cross-cultural, and age-related issues.