• John W Burns, Phillip Quartana, Wesley Gilliam, Erika Gray, Justin Matsuura, Carla Nappi, Brandy Wolfe, and Kenneth Lofland.
• Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA. john.burns@rosalindfranklin.edu
• Health Psychol. 2008 Sep 1;27(5):645-52.

ObjectiveEvidence for links between anger inhibition or suppression and chronic pain severity is based mostly on studies with correlation designs. Following from ironic process theory, we proposed that attempts to suppress angry thoughts during provocation would increase subsequent pain intensity among chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients, and do so through paradoxically enhanced accessibility of anger.DesignCLBP patients (N = 58) were assigned to suppression and nonsuppression conditions while performing a computer maze task with a harassing confederate. A structured pain behavior task (SPBT) followed.Main Outcome MeasuresSelf-reported anger, anxiety, and sadness following maze task. Self-reported pain severity and number of observed pain behaviors during SPBT.ResultsPatients told to suppress during provocation: (a) reported greater anger following the maze task, reported greater pain intensity during the SPBT, and exhibited more pain behaviors than patients not suppressing; (b) postmaze anger levels significantly mediated group differences on pain behaviors.ConclusionAttempts by CLBP patients to suppress anger may aggravate pain related to their clinical condition through ironically increased feelings of anger.PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

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