A study released in the journal Nature Review: Neurology released Friday, Sept. 8 provides a first-of-its-kind consensus statement by a task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) providing guidance to judges and lawyers about the uses of brain imaging in cases that involve claims of pain and pain-related disability.

Prof. Amanda Pustilnik of the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, chaired the law and ethics section of the task force, under the overall direction of Dr. Karen Davis of the University of Toronto. Pustilnik is available to discuss the study and its potential ramifications on the use of brain scanning.

“The use of brain imaging in this context is in a discovery phase,” the study says. “The task force proposes standards of evidence that must be satisfied before any brain imaging measure can be considered suitable for clinical or legal purposes. For these reasons, the task force concludes that the use of brain imaging findings to support or dispute a claim of chronic pain — effectively as a pain lie detector — is not warranted, but that imaging should be used to further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying pain.”

Chronic pain is a national public health issue. The Institute of Medicine estimates that around 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, incurring more than $600 billion in annual costs for health care expenses, lost wages, and more. Chronic pain is also often cited in personal injury and disability cases, but at this time there are no widely recognized tests to prove the existence or level of severity of chronic pain.

To arrange an interview with Prof. Pustilnik, contact UMB Director of Media Relations Alex Likowski at alikowski@umaryland.edu or (410) 706-3801.