National Survey Reveals Nearly Half of US Adults Experience Unexplained Pain and Illness, Highlighting Need for Neuroplastic Treatment Approaches

The Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms will hold its national conference from September 28-30, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, where medical professionals, researchers, and mental health experts will examine the latest advances in diagnosing and treating non-structural pain and illness. Neuroplastic symptoms, caused by stress-induced changes in nerve pathways rather than injury or disease, include conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic back pain, and many cases of long COVID.

A new national survey to be presented at the conference reveals that nearly half of US adults experience pain or illness that is either unexplained or not responding to traditional treatments, with a large majority of these cases likely being neuroplastic in nature. Dr. David Clarke, president of the ATNS, emphasized that this is the first survey of its kind, addressing critical questions affecting 40% of people who seek medical care for symptoms. The conference will feature over 40 leading experts discussing how neuroplastic conditions, often rooted in childhood stress and trauma, can be treated through understanding and rewiring neural patterns without invasive procedures.

The ATNS promotes Neuroplastic Recovery Therapy, an evidence-based, biopsychosocial approach that focuses on uncovering stress, trauma, and unrecognized emotions to help patients gain control over their symptoms without drugs or surgery. According to Dr. Clarke, this therapy is supported by gold-standard scientific research from randomized trials published in top medical journals such as the American Medical Association Psychiatry journal. The organization's mission is detailed at https://symptomatic.me, where further information on their biopsychosocial methods can be found.

This conference and the survey findings highlight a significant public health issue, as neuroplastic conditions represent a substantial portion of chronic pain cases that are often misdiagnosed or inadequately treated. The implications are far-reaching, suggesting a shift toward more holistic and psychological interventions could reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes by addressing the root causes of stress-induced symptoms rather than relying solely on pharmacological or surgical solutions.