Welcome to the online press kit for Dr. David Clarke

Most people assume that pain and illness are the straightforward result of injury and disease. However, one in six adults suffers from chronic pain or illness that is either “medically unexplained” or unresponsive to virtually any treatment. These patients often live with a psychophysiologic disorder (PPD), the increasingly common clinical term for very real stress-related and brain-generated medical conditions. Such chronic symptoms manifest themselves as everything from fibromyalgia to irritable bowel syndrome, and their incompatibility with conventional diagnosis leaves most PPD patients feeling neglected by the medical profession and hopeless about their future.

The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association (PPDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ending the chronic pain epidemic by promoting awareness of PPD diagnosis and treatment. Educating medical professionals is the first step in creating a healthcare system that is more compassionate toward PPD and more capable of serving every patient. In 2021, opioids accounted for over 80,000 of the drug overdose deaths reported in the United States. The opioid crisis is a plague on modern health care, and much of its strength originates from those patients unable to find understanding and relief — like those suffering from brain-generated symptoms.

“It’s all about awareness,” says Dr. David Clarke, renowned gastroenterologist and president of PPDA. “The more people — both medical professionals and more members of the public — who know about psychophysiologic disorders and what makes them tick, the more we will see diagnosis and effective treatment on the rise.”

The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association supports an evidence-based, biopsychosocial approach that is safer, more affordable, and more effective than traditional methods in treating chronic pain. With a focus on uncovering stress, trauma, and unrecognized emotion, patients are able to take control of their symptoms without drugs, surgery, or expensive treatments. What’s more, the organization is a leader and chief facilitator within the industry, supporting some of the most robust resources available for PPD patients and professionals:

THE PPDA CONFERENCE

The PPDA Conference is the world’s #1 gathering of PPD professionals, and all of its resources and events are open to the public. With presentations on everything from specific migraine diagnosis strategies to the latest discoveries in mind-body research, the PPDA Conference is a direct path to a new level of understanding of psychophysiologic research and treatment.

THE PPDA ONLINE COURSE

The PPDA online course is the perfect opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of psychophysiologic disorders. For medical professionals, this course helps them successfully diagnose and treat chronic functional syndromes and medically unexplained symptoms. For patients, it helps them better understand their pain and provides them with the necessary insight to visualize a healthier future.

THE PPD RELIEF ALLIANCE

The PPD Relief Alliance represents several specialized communities committed to advancing understanding of psychophysiologic disorders and promoting the overall well-being of PPD patients. The PPD Physicians Alliance brings together medical doctors fighting against PPD, while the PPD Mindbody Alliance brings together mental health professionals struggling with similar patients. The PPD Early Career Alliance is the perfect fit for those professionals just getting started, and the general PPD Relief Alliance welcomes all patients, students, and trainees.

“For both PPD patients and PPD professionals, knowledge is power,” says Dr. Clarke. “The more we can educate — the more we can bring people together — the more we can put PPD on the map and start solving the opioid crisis for real.”

With the largest conference devoted to the specialization, a number of innovative books published on the topic, a feature-length chronic pain documentary, and a robust online course for both patients and professionals, the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association is the definitive hub for PPD resources and support. Get the full story behind the PPDA’s mission.

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Learn more at EndChronicPain.org.