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Abstract
The idea that pain can lead to feelings of frustration, worry, anxiety and depression
seems obvious, particularly if it is of a chronic nature. However, there is also evidence
for the reverse causal relationship in which negative mood and emotion can lead to
pain or exacerbate it. Here, we review findings from studies on the modulation of
pain by experimentally induced mood changes and clinical mood disorders. We discuss
possible neural mechanisms underlying this modulatory influence focusing on the periaqueductal
grey (PAG), amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and anterior insula as key players
in both, pain and affective processing.