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The Role of Pain Catastrophizing in Experimental Pain Perception
Author(s) -
Kristiansen Frederik L.,
Olesen Anne E.,
Brock Christina,
Gazerani Parisa,
Petrini Laura,
Mogil Jeffrey S.,
Drewes Asbjørn M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/papr.12150
Subject(s) - pain catastrophizing , medicine , stimulation , tonic (physiology) , physical therapy , summation , physical stimulation , cold pressor test , anesthesia , chronic pain , heart rate , blood pressure
Background Pain is a subjective experience influenced by multiple factors, and tremendous variety within individuals is present. To evaluate emotional state of pain, catastrophizing score can be used. This study investigated pain catastrophizing ratings in association with experimental pain perception. Method Experimental pain was induced using thermal heat and cold stimulation of skin, mechanical stimulation of muscle and bone, and thermal, mechanical, and electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract in healthy participants ( N = 41). Prior to experimental sessions, a pain catastrophizing questionnaire was filled out by each participant. Results Based on the median catastophizing score, participants were divided into two groups: noncatastrophizers and low‐catastrophizers. No significant difference was found between low‐catastrophizers and noncatastrophizers in thermal heat stimulation of skin, mechanical stimulation of muscle and bone, and rectal electrical stimulation (All P > 0.05). Low‐catastrophizers were more sensitive to visceral thermal stimulation (4.7%, P = 0.02) and visceral mechanical stimulation (29.7%, P = 0.03). For participants that completed the 120 seconds ice water stimulation, noncatastrophizers reported 13.8% less pain than low‐catastrophizers ( P = 0.02). A positive correlation between PCS score and pain perception on cold pressor test was found ( r = 0.4, P = 0.02). By extrapolating data, further analysis of the total group was performed and no differences (both P > 0.05) were observed. Conclusion Even small increments in pain catastrophizing score can influence pain perception to deep and tonic stimulations. Catatrophizing may partly explain the variability found in experimental pain studies.