European journal of pain : EJP
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In this eye tracking study, we evaluated pain-related biases in orienting and maintenance of gaze within impending touch versus impending pain tasks and examined features of pain resilience as individual difference influences on potential biases. ⋯ Gaze biases were assessed within a comparatively benign "impending touch" paradigm versus a higher threat, impending pain task. Early capture and maintenance of gaze towards pain images were more pronounced on the latter task, although pain resilient participants were able to disengage more easily from pain images signalling possible pain.
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Previous research has shown that self-compassion is associated with improved functioning and health outcomes among multiple chronic illnesses. However, the role of self-compassion in chronic pain-related functioning is understudied. The present study sought to understand the association between self-compassion and important measures of functioning within a sample of patients with chronic pain. ⋯ Self-compassion is associated with better functioning across multiple general and pain-specific outcomes, with the strongest associations among measures related to psychological functioning and valued living. These findings indicate that self-compassion may be an adaptive process that could minimize the negative impact of chronic pain on important areas of life.
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Traumatized refugees with comorbid pain report more severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respond less well to PTSD-focused treatments and exhibit greater disability. A mutually maintaining relationship may exist between pain and PTSD, that may be partly accounted for by depression, but no prior studies have tested this assumption in traumatized refugees. ⋯ After controlling for symptoms of depression, pain catastrophizing and negative trauma-related beliefs partly mediated the relationship between pain and PTSD in tortured refugees. The results suggest that all three variables are important in a mutual mediation model of pain and PTSD, and as targets for treatment, in traumatized refugees.