David Clarke



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Knowledge Becomes Healing

The Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms advances the awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pain and illness.

Most people assume that pain and illness are the straightforward result of injury or disease. However, one in five adults suffers from chronic pain or illness that is either “medically unexplained” or does not respond as expected to treatment. These patients have neuroplastic symptoms (NS) — brain-generated conditions linked to past or present stress, trauma, or emotions. These chronic symptoms manifest themselves as fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, many cases of long COVID and dozens more conditions. Their incompatibility with conventional diagnosis leaves most NS patients feeling neglected by the medical profession and hopeless about their future.

The Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (formerly the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ending the chronic pain epidemic by promoting awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of neuroplastic pain and illness.

Neuroplastic symptoms are triggered by changes in the brain, says David Clarke MD, renowned gastroenterologist and president of the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms.

“The brain can change in a way that produces real pain or illness, and it can also change in a way that alleviates the symptoms,” Dr. Clarke says. “It’s a two-way street and the changes that produce pain or illness can be changed back to a healthy pattern.”

Educating healthcare professionals is the first step in providing the care that people suffering from these conditions deserve.

In 2023, opioids accounted for 81,083 of the 107,543 drug overdose deaths reported in the United States. The opioid crisis is a plague on modern health care, and much of its devastation is a result of patients being unable to find understanding or relief — including many suffering from neuroplastic pain and illness.

The Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms supports an evidence-based, biopsychosocial approach called Pain Relief Psychology 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.

“Pain Relief Psychology is the only treatment backed by gold standard science from randomized trials published in top medical journals like the American Medical Association Psychiatry journal,” Dr. Clarke notes.

What’s more, the organization is a leader and chief facilitator within the industry, supporting some of the most robust resources available for NS patients and professionals:

THE ATNS CONFERENCE

The Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms Conference is the world’s #1 gathering of professionals dedicated to treating neuroplastic pain and illness, 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 conference is a direct path to a new level of understanding of research and treatment for neuroplastic conditions.

THE ATNS ONLINE COURSE

The ATNS 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 ATNS RELIEF ALLIANCE

The ATNS Relief Alliance represents several specialized communities committed to advancing understanding of neuroplastic pain and illness and promoting the overall well-being of patients. The Alliance brings together medical doctors treating patients battling neuroplastic pain and illness, while the NS Mindbody Alliance brings together mental health professionals struggling with similar patients. The NS Early Career Alliance is the perfect fit for those professionals just getting started, and the general NS Relief Alliance welcomes all patients, students, and trainees.

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 Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms is the definitive hub for resources and support. Get the full story behind the group’s mission.

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


PRESS RELEASE 10/29/24
The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association Becomes Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms

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