EXAM 3: Chronic Pain

Question 1

How long must pain last for it to be considered chronic pain?

Answer 1

Must last 3 months or longer

Question 2

What is the relationship between severity of illness/injury and the severity or sensation of pain?

Answer 2

Illness behaviors in chronic nonorganic pain can be understood as three interrelated factors-health concerns, affective distress with psychosocial problems, and bodily distress. AI might be an independent factor for presentation of chronic nonorganic pain.

Question 3

What, if any, are the gender differences for pain severity?

Answer 3

Boys pain was rated higher than girls by observers, less pain meds given to females, increased risk for pain experiences among trans and gender-diverse youth

Question 4

How are perceptions of pain severity related to gender, socioeconomic status, race, and/or ethnicity in children?

Answer 4

• Racial: Pain severity underestimated in minority populations
  
  • Age: Younger child may have less functional disability
  • Gender: Boys pain was rated higher than girls by observers, less pain meds given to females, increased risk for pain experiences among trans and gender-diverse youth
  • SES: Lower SES is perceived to be less pain-sensitive

Question 5

What is the evidence that pain in processed in the brain?

Answer 5

• Mind-Body Connection: Nerves communicate about our environments (hot, cold) AND feelings
• Sensory Input (pain/emotional response)

Question 6

What is the relationship between pain catastrophizing thoughts and pain related fears?

Answer 6

• Pain-specific anxiety (e.g., fear of pain) and pain carastrophizing (e.g., thoughts of helplessness and inability to cope with pain) have received increasing attnetion and are associated with greater functional disability
• Pain Catastrophizing, fear of pain, avoidance/hypervigilance → disability/disuse → pain experiences
• (EX: child A-stubs toe, see’s hit on chair, no fear, pain subsides)(ChildB- Sharp pain in toe, sees no reason for it, develops fear something else serious is going on)

Question 7

What is the relationship between the experience of pain and nociception?

Answer 7

When the nociceptive signals are sent from the spinal cord neurons to brain to produce unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, pain perception occurs. Although nociception usually produces pain perception, pain can occur without nociception, and nociception may not lead to pain.

Question 8

How do people learn the concept of pain?

Answer 8

Through their life experiences, individuals learn the concept of pain.”

Question 9

What are gender differences for chronic pain?

Answer 9

• Greater prevalence of chronic pain in girls comapred to boys has been found in younger (elementary-school-age) as well as hgih school students.
• The basis for the increased prevalance of chronic pain in females, however, remains unclear.

Question 10

What does an interdisciplinary approach to chronic pain look like?

Answer 10

Multidisciplinary pain management address the physical, psychological and environmental or social factors that contribute to the pain experience. n Chronic pain must be managed differently from acute pain. self-management strategies that help reduce pain and disability.

Question 11

How does cognitive behavioral therapy relate to chronic pain?

Answer 11

• Relaxation + distraction training (guided imagery, muscle relaxation)
• Behavioral training (goal setting, activity scheduling)
• Cognitive training (reframing, self-statements - for catastrophizing and cog. distortions, improve pain self-efficacy)
• Sleep hygiene
• Social skill training