Dr. Avetis Avetisyan, MD, PhD, E-MBA, DrPH, is a neurologist and pain medicine specialist, serving as Head of the Neurological Service at Vita Longa Medical Center in Yerevan. He is also a lecturer at the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation Medicine of the National Institute of Health of Armenia. He is the Founding President of the National Association for Pain Medicine and serves as the Armenian Chapter President of both the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the European Pain Federation EFIC. Dr. Avetisyan is the Chair and Chief Coordinator of the Yerevan Pain Days 2025 and the 1st Armenian International Congress on Pain Medicine, held within the Armenian International Healthcare EXPO 2025. Through his international collaborations and leadership, he is working to establish Armenia as a regional hub for pain medicine, education, and healthcare innovation.
How did you transition from neurology to pain management?
My path from neurology to pain medicine was a natural evolution. In neurology, I was constantly faced with patients whose suffering extended far beyond the visible neurological disorder. Pain, especially chronic pain, often became the dominant factor that shaped their quality of life. I realised that focusing only on neurological deficits was not enough – I needed to address the full spectrum of human suffering. Pain medicine gave me the framework to do this, combining clinical expertise with empathy, and uniting science with humanity.
I realised that focusing only on neurological deficits was not enough – I needed to address the full spectrum of human suffering.
Your professional work often focuses on neuropathic pain. What do you find most clinically or scientifically interesting about this type of pain?
Neuropathic pain fascinates me because it challenges our traditional clinical boundaries. It is unpredictable, often disproportionate to visible pathology, and deeply interwoven with psychological, genetic, and social dimensions. Scientifically, it is an excellent field for translational research: linking molecular insights with patient-centered care. Clinically, it demands creativity and humility, because no single treatment fits all. Each patient is a puzzle, and finding a path toward relief is both an intellectual and a human challenge.
What do you see as the most common mistakes in the clinical approach to patients with pain?
One of the most frequent mistakes is reductionism: treating pain as a purely physical symptom, or conversely, dismissing it as “just psychological”. Pain is multidimensional, and a successful approach must be integrative. Another mistake is over-reliance on pharmacology while neglecting rehabilitation, psychological support, and patient education. Lastly, underestimating the patient’s own voice is a critical error; patients are not passive recipients of treatment, they are active participants in their healing journey.
One of the most frequent mistakes is reductionism: treating pain as a purely physical symptom, or conversely, dismissing it as “just psychological”. Pain is multidimensional, and a successful approach must be integrative.
What role does communication between doctor and patient play in effective pain management?
Communication is not a supplement to treatment – it is treatment itself. Effective dialogue builds trust, reduces fear, and creates a therapeutic alliance. Many patients with chronic pain feel isolated and misunderstood. When a physician listens actively, explains clearly, and validates the patient’s experience, half the battle is already won. Good communication transforms pain from being a lonely struggle into a shared journey.
Communication is not a supplement to treatment – it is treatment itself.
How do you think the neurologist’s role is evolving within multidisciplinary pain management teams?
Neurologists bring unique expertise in the mechanisms of the nervous system, which is central to most chronic pain conditions. But today, our role is not limited to diagnostics. We are becoming bridges – linking biological understanding with holistic care. In multidisciplinary teams, neurologists are increasingly called to collaborate with psychologists, physiotherapists, anesthesiologists, and others. This shift is vital: pain cannot be conquered in isolation, but only through the synergy of disciplines.
Související
Pain Psychology in Medicine. První mezinárodní setkání
5. listopadu 2025
od 10.00
Velká posluchárna (2. LF UK)
Dr. Jaroslava Raudenská v ČRo o psychologii bolesti
Klinická psycholožka a kognitivně-behaviorální terapeutka (Ústav ošetřovatelsví) v pořadu Dva na Dvojce ČRo.
Pain can only be treated with a holistic approach
Insights from Professor Giustino Varrassi, a featured international speaker at the First International Meeting on Pain Psychology in Medicine.
Největší mýtus je, že ženy vše vydrží a muži nikdy nepláčou
Rozhovor s klinickou psycholožkou a kognitivně-behaviorální terapeutkou, PhDr. Jaroslavou Raudenskou, PhD., která spoluorganizuje nadcházející první mezinárodní setkání v ČR na téma psychologie bolesti v medicíně.
