Difficulties in stratifying neuropathic pain by mechanisms

The paper addresses issues related to the clinical relevance of currently employed animal models of neuropathic pain and our inability to translate clinical symptoms and signs into pathophysiological mechanisms. A machanism-based classification of pain is therefore currently not feasible. Suggestions on how to facilitate progress within this area are put forward. (C) 2003 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.