Journal of psychosomatic research
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Although it is clear from previous research that pain is associated with negative affect, the relative contribution of specific affective dimensions, e.g. depression, anxiety and anger, to the subjective experience of chronic pain is unclear. The literature is also mixed concerning the relative importance of state versus trait influences in the experience of chronic pain. The present study analyzed the ability of anxiety, anger, and depression (as measured by the State-Trait Personality Inventory, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively) to predict self-report of clinical pain as indicated by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) in a sample of 60 chronic pain patients. ⋯ These data suggest support for the hypothesis that chronic pain adversely impacts mood rather than the opposing hypothesis that negative mood is a predisposing factor in the development of chronic pain. Furthermore, different aspects of the state emotional experience were found to be related to different components of pain report. The results of this study also suggest that attributional processes could be an important component of the relationship between negative mood and the experience of pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Hypnosis and autogenic training in the treatment of tension headaches: a two-phase constructive design study with follow-up.
Tension headaches can form a chronic (very long duration) condition. EMG biofeedback, relaxation training and analgesia by hypnotic suggestion can reduce the pain. ⋯ The three treatments were equally effective at post-treatment, but after a 6-month follow-up period, the future oriented hypnotic imagery which had been explicitly presented as hypnosis was superior to autogenic training. Contrary to common belief, it could be demonstrated that the therapists were as effective with the treatment modality they preferred as with the treatment modality they felt to be less remedial.
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Pain perception threshold (PPT), maximal pain tolerance (MPT) and pain discrimination of CLBP patients and controls were tested. Pain perception threshold was significantly higher in the patient group for two different pain stimuli (electrical and pressure pain). ⋯ It is concluded that CLBP patients have a decreased sensitivity for experimental pain. Two theories which might explain this decreased sensitivity are discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Analgesic effects of different pulse patterns of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cold-induced pain in normal subjects.
The analgesic efficacy of various pulse patterns of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) were assessed in 84 normal healthy subjects using the cold pressor pain technique. Burst, modulation, random and continuous TENS all significantly elevated ice pain threshold. ⋯ Increasing the size of electrodes reduced the effect of continuous TENS. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Few methods exist to assess the affective or reactive dimension of chronic pain, and there are psychometric and practical limitations on the methods that do exist. The current paper reports on the development and validation of the Pain Discomfort Scale, a 10-item instrument designed to fill the need for a brief and psychometrically sound measure of pain affect. ⋯ In addition, the results of both correlational and factor analyses of the PDS with other measures support its distinctiveness (from measures of pain intensity) and construct validity (as indicated by its close association with other measures of pain affect). These results support the use of the PDS in situations where a measure of the affective response to chronic pain is needed.