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Psychosocial Correlates of Sensitization in Chronic Pain: An Exploratory Analysis

Janke, Elizabeth Amy

Abstract Details

2004, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Psychology (Arts and Sciences).

Assessments of tenderness to palpation (touch) and thresholds for pain are physiological assessments frequently used in chronic pain research. These measurements are generally believed to index pain regulatory systems. However, given the large body of research supporting the high correlation between certain psychiatric symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) and chronic pain disorders (such as tension-type headache), it is reasonable to hypothesize that these physiological measures could assess physiological vulnerability related to both the physical experience of pain and the psychological distress that may accompany this experience. The current research hopes to clarify the physiological vulnerability often found in individuals with chronic pain and the association this vulnerability may have to measures of psychological distress using a novel design that recruited participants from the entire population of undergraduate females rather than recruiting participants based upon their report of having a chronic pain disorder (as is typically done in research in tenderness/pain thresholds). Participants underwent several physiological measures designed to evaluate various aspects of pain sensitization and the participant’s physiological reaction to stress. Participants also complete several pen and paper questionnaires to assess psychiatric symptoms (in particular, anxiety and depression), stress, pain, coping, family history, and physical symptoms. Results showed that participants with high levels of muscle tenderness were significantly different from their low tender peers on measures of pain threshold, tolerance, and widespread sensitivity. Highly tender participants also reported significantly more symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, poor pain coping, and family history of chronic pain problems. It is believed that the results of this study could help to clarify the physiological mechanisms believed to play a role in both pain and affect regulation and assist future researchers in developing studies to better examine the etiology and possible treatments for disorders of these systems (i.e., chronic pain and psychiatric symptoms).

Kenneth Holroyd (Advisor)
201 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Janke, E. A. (2004). Psychosocial Correlates of Sensitization in Chronic Pain: An Exploratory Analysis [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1108061243

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Janke, Elizabeth. Psychosocial Correlates of Sensitization in Chronic Pain: An Exploratory Analysis. 2004. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1108061243.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Janke, Elizabeth. "Psychosocial Correlates of Sensitization in Chronic Pain: An Exploratory Analysis." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1108061243

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)