Final answer:
Chronic pain can persist after tissue healing, with sterile inflammation and immune system messengers causing pain. Psychoactive drugs like opioids and NSAIDs are used for chronic pain management, with careful supervision due to risks of side effects and addiction. Neuropathic pain treatment varies based on pain type and severity, and patient-specific factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding pharmacotherapy in chronic pain is that chronic pain often persists even after the damaged tissue has healed, which is accompanied by sterile inflammation with components of the innate immune system such as macrophages. This response by the immune system involves chemical messengers that can cause or perpetuate chronic pain. For instance, general anesthetics like halothane and ketamine block pain signals and induce unconsciousness during surgical procedures. However, for chronic pain conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, other psychoactive drugs that manage pain without affecting consciousness, like opioids (morphine and codeine), NSAIDs, and acetaminophen may be prescribed. While opioids are very effective, they carry risks such as serious side effects and the potential for addiction, and should only be used under a doctor's supervision.
It's essential to note that neuropathic pain is different in that it results from damage to neurons in the peripheral or central nervous system, leading to exaggerated pain signals to the brain. Multiple treatment options ranging from relaxation therapy to analgesic medications to deep brain stimulation are available depending on the type and severity of pain, along with the individual's specific medical and psychological conditions.