scholarly journals Time course of attentional bias to painful facial expressions and the moderating role of attentional control: an eye-tracking study

2019 ◽  
pp. 204946371986687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Mazidi ◽  
Mohsen Dehghani ◽  
Louise Sharpe ◽  
Behrooz Dolatshahi ◽  
Seyran Ranjbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients

Introduction: This study investigated the time course of attention to pain and examined the moderating effect of attentional control in the relationship between pain catastrophizing and attentional bias in chronic pain patients. Methods: A total of 28 patients with chronic pain and 29 pain-free individuals observed pictures of pain, happy and neutral facial expressions while their gaze behaviour was recorded. Pain intensity and duration, anxiety, depression, stress, attentional control and pain catastrophizing were assessed by questionnaires. Results: In all subjects, the pattern of attention for pain faces was characterized by initial vigilance, followed by avoidance. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of orientation towards the stimuli, the duration of first fixation, the average duration of fixation or number of fixations on the pain stimuli. Attentional control moderated the relationship between catastrophizing and overall dwell time for happy faces in pain patients, indicating that those with high attentional control and high catastrophizing focused more on happy faces, whereas the reverse was true for those with low attentional control. Conclusion: This study supported the vigilance–avoidance pattern of attention to painful facial expressions and a moderation effect of attentional control in the association between pain catastrophizing and attentional bias to happy faces among pain patients.

scholarly journals Executive and Attentional Functions in Chronic Pain: Does Performance Decrease with Increasing Task Load?

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joukje M Oosterman ◽  
Laura C Derksen ◽  
Albert JM van Wijck ◽  
Roy PC Kessels ◽  
Dieuwke S Veldhuijzen
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Psychomotor Speed ◽  
Psychomotor Slowing ◽  
Mental Flexibility ◽  
Attention Performance ◽  
Pain Patients

BACKGROUND: Diminished executive function and attentional control has been reported in chronic pain patients. However, the precise pattern of impairment in these aspects of cognition in chronic pain remains unclear. Moreover, a decline in psychomotor speed could potentially influence executive and attentional control performance in pain patients.OBJECTIVE: To examine different aspects of executive and attentional control in chronic pain together with the confounding role of psychomotor slowing.METHODS: Neuropsychological tests of sustained attention, planning ability, inhibition and mental flexibility were administered to 34 participants with chronic pain and 32 control participants.RESULTS: Compared with the controls, participants with chronic pain took longer to complete tests of sustained attention and mental flexibility, but did not perform worse on inhibition or planning tasks. The decreased performance on the mental flexibility task likely reflects a reduction in psychomotor speed. The pattern of performance on the sustained attention task reveals a specific decline in attention, indicated by a disproportionate decline in performance with an increase in task duration and by increased fluctuations in attention during task performance. No additional effect was noted of pain intensity, pain duration, pain catastrophizing, depressive symptoms, reduced sleep because of the pain or opioid use.CONCLUSIONS: Executive and attention functions are not uniformly affected in chronic pain. At least part of the previously reported decline in executive function in this group may reflect psychomotor slowing. Overall, limited evidence was found that executive and attention performance is indeed lower in chronic pain. Therefore, it can be concluded that in chronic pain sustained attention performance is diminished while mental flexibility, planning and inhibition appear to be intact.

scholarly journals Chronic Pain Patients’ Gaze Patterns toward Pain-Related Information: Comparison between Pictorial and Linguistic Stimuli

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee ◽  
Beom ◽  
Choi ◽  
Lee ◽  
Lee
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Pain Clinic ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
Attentional Engagement ◽  
Pain Patients

Background and Objectives: The attentional bias and information processing model explained that individuals who interpret pain stimuli as threatening may increase their attention toward pain-related information. Previous eye tracking studies found pain attentional bias among individuals with chronic pain; however, those studies investigated this phenomenon by using only one stimulus modality. Therefore, the present study investigated attentional engagement to pain-related information and the role of pain catastrophizing on pain attentional engagement to pain-related stimuli among chronic pain patients by utilizing both linguistic and visual stimulus. Materials and Methods: Forty chronic pain patients were recruited from the rehabilitation center, the back pain clinic, and the rheumatology department of Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Patients observed pictures of faces and words displaying pain, presented simultaneously with neutral expressions, while their eye movements were measured using the eye tracking system. A t-test and ANOVA were conducted to compare stimulus pairs for the total gaze duration. Results revealed that chronic pain patients demonstrated attentional preference toward pain words but not for pain faces. An ANOVA with bias scores was conducted to investigate the role of pain catastrophizing on attentional patterns. Results indicated that chronic pain patients with high pain catastrophizing scores gazed significantly longer at pain- and anger-related words than neutral words compared to those with low pain catastrophizing scores. The same patterns were not observed for the facial expression stimulus pairs. Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed attentional preference toward pain-related words and the significant role of pain catastrophizing on pain attentional engagement to pain-related words. However, different patterns were observed between linguistic and visual stimuli. Clinical implications related to use in pain treatment and future research suggestions are discussed.

scholarly journals Attentional Engagement for Pain-Related Information among Individuals with Chronic Pain: The Role of Pain Catastrophizing

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Lee ◽  
S. H. Kim ◽  
S. K. Shin ◽  
A. Wachholtz ◽  
J. H. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Pain Disability ◽  
Attentional Engagement ◽  
Time Course Of Attention

Although the evidence of the attentional bias of chronic pain individuals toward pain-related information is established in the literature, few studies examined the time course of attention toward pain stimuli and the role of pain catastrophizing on attentional engagement toward pain-related information. This study examined the time course of attention to pain-related information and the role of pain catastrophizing on attentional engagement for pain-related information. Participants were fifty young adult participants with chronic pain (35% male, 65% female; M = 21.8 years) who completed self-report questionnaires assessing pain catastrophizing levels (Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)), depression (the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)), and pain disability (the Pain Disability Index: (PDI)). Attentional engagements to pain- and anger-related information were measured by the eye tracker. Significant interaction effects were found between (1) time and stimulus type for pain-related information (F (5, 245) = 11.55, p<0.001) and (2) bias scores and pain catastrophizing (F (1, 48) = 6.736, p<0.05). These results indicated that the degree of increase for pain bias scores were significantly greater than anger bias scores as levels of pain catastrophizing increased. Results of the present study provided the evidence for the attentional bias and information processing model which has clinical implications; high levels of pain catastrophizing may impair individuals’ ability to cope with chronic pain by increasing attentional engagement toward pain-related information. The present study can add knowledge to attentional bias and pain research as this study investigated the time course of attention and the role of pain catastrophizing on attentional engagement toward pain-related information for adults with chronic pain conditions.

scholarly journals Disability and Borderline Personality Disorder in Chronic Pain Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 369-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy A Sansone ◽  
J David Sinclair ◽  
Michael W Wiederman
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Pain Specialist ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the relationship between disability and borderline personality symptomatology, and, among those that have, findings have been inconsistent. In the present study, the relationship between medical disability and borderline personality symptomatology was examined in a sample of chronic pain patients.METHODS: In a consecutive insured sample of male and female chronic pain patients (n=117), who were being initially evaluated by an outpatient pain specialist, the criterion of having “ever been on medical disability” and features of borderline personality disorder were examined using the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4.RESULTS: While 35% of participants acknowledged having ever been on medical disability, there was no statistically significant difference between those with a history versus those without a history of medical disability with regard to the prevalence of borderline personality symptomatology.CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that among chronic pain patients, there may be no meaningful relationship between having ever been on medical disability and borderline personality symptomatology.

The relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain, anxiety and mindfulness: Adjustments to the Fear-Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine B. Curtin ◽  
Deborah Norris
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Pain Severity ◽  
Fear Avoidance ◽  
Pain Anxiety ◽  
Fear Avoidance Model ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients

AbstractBackground and purposeThe Fear-Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain proposed by Vlaeyen and Linton states individuals enter a cycle of chronic pain due to predisposing psychological factors, such as negative affectivity, negative appraisal or anxiety sensitivity. They do not, however, address the closely related concept of anxious rumination. Although Vlaeyen and Linton suggest cognitive-behavioral treatment methods for chronic pain patients who exhibit pain-related fear, they do not consider mindfulness treatments. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), ruminative anxiety and mindfulness to determine if (1) ruminative anxiety is a risk factor for developing chronic pain and (2) mindfulness is a potential treatment for breaking the cycle of chronic pain.MethodsMiddle-aged adults ages 35-50 years (N = 201) with self-reported CMP were recruited online. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing elements of chronic pain, anxiety, and mindfulness.ResultsRuminative anxiety was positively correlated with pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear and avoidance, pain interference, and pain severity but negatively correlated with mindfulness. High ruminative anxiety level predicted significantly higher elements of chronic pain and significantly lower level of mindfulness. Mindfulness significantly predicted variance (R2) in chronic pain and anxiety outcomes. Pain severity, ruminative anxiety, pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear and avoidance, and mindfulness significantly predicted 70.0% of the variance in pain interference, with pain severity, ruminative anxiety and mindfulness being unique predictors.ConclusionsThe present study provides insight into the strength and direction of the relationships between ruminative anxiety, mindfulness and chronic pain in a CMP population, demonstrating the unique associations between specific mindfulness factors and chronic pain elements.ImplicationsIt is possible that ruminative anxiety and mindfulness should be added into the Fear-Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain, with ruminative anxiety as a psychological vulnerability and mindfulness as an effective treatment strategy that breaks the cycle of chronic pain. This updated Fear-Avoidance Model should be explored further to determine the specific mechanism of mindfulness on chronic pain and anxiety and which of the five facets of mindfulness are most important to clinical improvements. This could help clinicians develop individualized mindfulness treatment plans for chronic pain patients.

scholarly journals Catastrophizers with Chronic Pain Display more Pain Behaviour when in a Relationship with a Low Catastrophizing Spouse

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Gauthier ◽  
Pascal Thibault ◽  
Michael JL Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Pain Experience ◽  
Pain Behaviour ◽  
Pain Communication ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Pain Outcomes ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients

The present study examined the relationship between couple concordance of catastrophizing and adverse pain outcomes. Possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between couple concordance of catastrophizing and pain outcomes were also explored. Fifty-eight couples were recruited for the study. The chronic pain patients were filmed while lifting a series of weighted canisters. The spouse was later invited to view the video and answer questions about the pain experience of their partner. Median splits on Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores were used to create four ‘catastrophizing concordance’ groups: low catastrophizing patient-low catastrophizing spouse; low catastrophizing patient-high catastrophizing spouse; high catastrophizing patient-low catastrophizing spouse; and high catastrophizing patient-high catastrophizing spouse. Analyses revealed that high catastrophizing pain patients who were in a relationship with a low catastrophizing spouse displayed more pain behaviours than patients in all other groups. These findings suggest that high catastrophizing chronic pain patients may need to increase the ‘volume’ of pain communication to compensate for low catastrophizing spouses’ tendency to underestimate the severity of their pain experience. Patients’ perceived solicitousness and punitive response from the spouse could not explain the group differences in pain behaviour. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Does Experience Influence Judgements of Pain Behaviour? Evidence from Relatives of Pain Patients and Therapists

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth M Prkachin ◽  
Patty Solomon ◽  
Teresa Hwang ◽  
Susan R Mercer
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Family History ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Positive Family History ◽  
Negative Family History ◽  
Pain Behaviour ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients ◽  
Considerable Experience

OBJECTIVE: Judgments about an individual's pain can be profoundly important to sufferers. Relatively few studies have examined variables that may affect observers' judgments of the pain of others. The present article reports two studies investigating the relationship between different kinds of exposure to pain problems and observers' ratings of the pain intensity of patients.DESIGN: In the first study, 82 observers were classified into groups with positive and negative family histories of chronic pain. They viewed a videotape showing the facial expressions of shoulder pain patients undergoing physiotherapy assessments and rated the pain experienced by the subjects. In the second study, the data from observers having no experience with pain problems were compared with data collected from therapists having considerable experience with pain problems.RESULTS: Observers with a positive family history of chronic pain attributed greater pain to the patients than those with a negative family history of chronic pain. Professionals' pain judgments were lower than those of control subjects.CONCLUSIONS: Together, the findings imply that one's experiences with the different problems of pain patients may affect pain judgments. Alternative interpretations of the findings are considered.

The relationship between sleep and opioids in chronic pain patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Frers ◽  
Jonathan Shaffer ◽  
Jack Edinger ◽  
Amy Wachholtz
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document