Intro To Pain Science Flashcards

1
Q

What is pain according to the IASP?

A

Unpleasant sensory & emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.

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2
Q

How does the IASP define the personal nature of pain?

A

Pain is always a personal experience influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

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3
Q

What is the difference between pain and nociception according to the IASP?

A

Pain and nociception are different; pain cannot be inferred solely from activity in sensory neurons.

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4
Q

How do individuals learn the concept of pain?

A

Individuals learn the concept of pain through their life experiences.

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5
Q

How should a person’s report of pain be treated?

A

A person’s report of pain should be respected.

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6
Q

What role does pain usually serve, and what negative effects can it have?

A

Pain usually serves an adaptive role but can have adverse effects on function, as well as social and psychological well-being.

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7
Q

Is verbal communication the only way to express pain?

A

No, verbal description is just one of several behaviors to express pain. Inability to communicate does not mean a human or nonhuman animal isn’t experiencing pain.

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8
Q

What was the historical belief about pain and its relationship to physical pathology?

A

It was believed that pain and chronic pain depended on a linear relationship between physical pathology and patient-reported symptoms, with the amount of reported pain perfectly proportional to the tissue damage “causing” the pain.

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9
Q

Why did the biopsychosocial model of pain gain acceptance?

A

The biopsychosocial model gained acceptance due to its flexibility in explaining pain, accounting for psychological, social, and neurobiological factors, rather than focusing solely on physical pathology.

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10
Q

What is the focus of personalized pain medicine in the context of the biopsychosocial model?

A

Personalized pain medicine emphasizes characterizing the inter-relationships between psychological states, social/contextual forces, and neurobiological processes for each patient, aiming to optimize treatment outcomes.

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11
Q

How was the role of psychological and social factors in chronic pain traditionally viewed?

A

Psychological and social factors were traditionally viewed as secondary reactions to persistent pain.

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12
Q

How should psychological and social factors in chronic pain be understood according to the biopsychosocial model?

A

Psychological and social factors are not just secondary reactions but part of an interactive complex of biopsychosocial processes that characterize chronic pain.

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13
Q

What are the most commonly assessed psychological factors in patients with persistent pain?

A

Depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and a cluster of negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors termed “negative affect” are the most commonly assessed psychological factors in patients with persistent pain.

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14
Q

How is negative affect related to pain and disability?

A

Negative affect is associated with increased pain and disability in patients with persistent pain.

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15
Q

What is the relationship between positive affect and pain?

A

Positive affect and optimism are associated with less pain and dysfunction. Optimism, in particular, is linked to lower pain sensitivity and reduced situational catastrophizing.

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16
Q

What type of evidence is there linking trauma to chronic pain?

A

Increasing evidence suggests an association between both psychological and physical trauma and chronic pain.

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17
Q

What forms can early-life trauma take, and how are they related to chronic pain?

A

Early-life trauma can take the form of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, all of which have been demonstrated as risk factors for chronic pain conditions in adulthood.

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18
Q

What chronic pain conditions have been associated with early-life trauma?

A

Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, and temporomandibular joint disorders have been linked to early-life trauma.

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19
Q

How can the negative effects of stressors on health outcomes be mitigated?

A

The negative consequences of stressors on health outcomes can be buffered by social support.

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20
Q

How is social support related to physical functioning in individuals with pain conditions?

A

Social support is associated with improved physical functioning for individuals with pain conditions.

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21
Q

In what specific context is social support particularly important for pain management?

A

Social support plays an important role in pain management for individuals suffering from cancer and cancer-related treatments.

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22
Q

How does the presence of a supportive partner affect cancer patients with pain?

A

The presence of a supportive partner has been associated with reduced symptom burden, including less pain, improved quality of life, and fewer symptoms of distress in cancer patients.

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23
Q

How does pain prevalence differ between women and men?

A

There is considerable evidence suggesting that pain prevalence is greater in women compared to men.

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24
Q

In what ways do women experience pain differently than men?

A

Women are more likely to experience recurrent, more severe, more frequent, and longer-lasting pain compared to men.

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25
Q

Which types of pain are more prevalent among females compared to males?

A

Musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal pain, neuropathic pain, facial pain, and headaches are all more prevalent among females compared to males.

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26
Q

How are differences in pain coping are associated with _________________?

A

Differences in pain coping are associated with differences in pain intensity, adjustment to chronic pain, and psychological and physical functioning.

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27
Q

What are the outcomes associated with active pain coping strategies?

A

Active coping strategies are linked to positive affect, better psychological adjustment, and decreased depression.

28
Q

What are the outcomes associated with passive pain coping strategies?

A

Passive coping strategies are linked to poorer outcomes, such as increased pain and depression.

29
Q

What is catastrophizing in the context of pain?

A

Catastrophizing is a cognitive and emotional response to pain that involves the magnification of pain sensations, rumination about pain, and feelings of helplessness in managing pain.

30
Q

What are examples of magnification in pain catastrophizing?

A

An example of magnification is thinking, “This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced.”

31
Q

What are examples of rumination in pain catastrophizing?

A

An example of rumination is thinking, “I can’t stop thinking about the pain.”

32
Q

What is an example of helplessness in pain catastrophizing?

A

An example of helplessness is thinking, “There is nothing I can do to make it better.”

33
Q

What are the consequences of catastrophizing for individuals with chronic pain?

A

Catastrophizing is associated with increased pain intensity, greater pain disability, and higher levels of psychological distress in individuals with chronic low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, and other chronic pain complaints.

34
Q

How is generalized positive outcome expectancy related to pain management?

A

Generalized positive outcome expectancy is related to increased feelings of control, the use of more active coping strategies, and better functional performance.

35
Q

What role does positive outcome expectancy play in the transition from acute to chronic pain?

A

Positive outcome expectancy has been identified as a protective factor that helps prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain.

36
Q

What is acute pain and how long does it usually last?

A

Acute pain comes on suddenly, is sharp in quality, and usually lasts no longer than six months. It goes away when the underlying cause is resolved.

37
Q

What are some common causes of acute pain?

A

Common causes of acute pain include surgery, broken bones, dental work, burns or cuts, and labor and childbirth.

38
Q

What is chronic pain and how long does it usually last?

A

Chronic pain is ongoing, usually lasting longer than six months, and can continue even after the injury or illness has healed. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system.

39
Q

Can chronic pain occur without a past injury or body damage?

A

Yes, some people suffer from chronic pain even when there is no past injury or apparent body damage.

40
Q

What conditions are commonly associated with chronic pain?

A

Chronic pain is linked to conditions such as headaches, back pain, nerve pain, and fibromyalgia.

41
Q

What are some physical effects of chronic pain on the body?

A

Chronic pain can cause tense muscles, limited ability to move around, lack of energy, and changes in appetite due to stress.

42
Q

What typically initiates the transition from acute to chronic pain?

A

The transition usually begins with an initial injury, illness, or medical condition that causes acute pain, serving as a warning signal for tissue damage or potential harm.

43
Q

What happens during prolonged sensitization in chronic pain?

A

Despite the initial injury healing, the nervous system may remain sensitized, meaning the nerves become hypersensitive to pain signals, amplifying the perception of pain even without ongoing tissue damage. This can result from ongoing inflammation, nerve damage, or changes in the central nervous system.

44
Q

How do psychological factors contribute to chronic pain?

A

Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, fear of pain, and catastrophic thinking can contribute to the persistence and amplification of pain by influencing how pain signals are processed in the brain.

45
Q

What are maladaptive coping strategies, and how do they relate to chronic pain?

A

Maladaptive coping strategies include avoidance of activities, overreliance on medications, and withdrawal from social interactions. These strategies can perpetuate the cycle of pain and contribute to the development of chronic pain.

46
Q

What are neuroplastic changes in the context of chronic pain?

A

Prolonged exposure to pain can lead to neuroplastic changes in the nervous system, altering the structure and function of neural pathways involved in pain processing. This can result in heightened pain sensitivity and contribute to the maintenance of chronic pain.

47
Q

How do social and environmental factors influence the transition from acute to chronic pain?

A

Social and environmental factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, social support, and cultural beliefs about pain can influence the transition. Lack of support, stigma, and barriers to effective treatments can exacerbate the impact of pain.

48
Q

What is the role of reinforcement of pain behaviors in chronic pain?

A

Over time, individuals may develop behaviors that reinforce the experience of pain, such as seeking attention or sympathy, or using pain to avoid responsibilities. These behaviors can contribute to the persistence of chronic pain.

49
Q

Why is the transition from acute to chronic pain considered complex?

A

The transition is influenced by complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors, meaning it is not solely determined by biological aspects.

50
Q

What is required for effective management of chronic pain?

A

Effective management often requires a multidisciplinary approach addressing various factors contributing to pain persistence, including pharmacological treatments, psychological interventions, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications aimed at improving function and quality of life.

51
Q

What is a Nociceptor?

A

a high threshold sensory receptor of the peripheral somatosensory NS capable of transducing and encoding a noxious (harmful) stimulus.

52
Q

What is a Nociceptive Neuron:?

A

Central or peripheral neuron that is capable of encoding noxious stimulation

53
Q

What is a Noxious Stimuli?

A

A stimulus that is damaging or threatens damage to normal tissue. It can be external or internal:
- External such as hammering a nail, open flames, ice, acid (chemical)
- Internal such as inflammation, healing processes from tissue damage, progressive conditions where inflammation plays a role

54
Q

What is Nociception?

A

Neural process of encoding and processing noxious stimuli

55
Q

What is Nociceptive Pain?

A

Pain arising from activation of nociceptors

56
Q

What is Sensitization?

A

Increased responsiveness of sensory neurons to their normal input, and/or recruitment of a response to normally sub threshold inputs.

57
Q

What is Nociplastic?

A

Nociplastic pain is defined by the IASP as “pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing the activation of peripheral nociceptors or evidence
for disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causing the pain.” Eg includes FM, CFS, CRPS, Persistent low back pain, IBS.

58
Q

What is Sensation?

A

Physical feeling from contact with the body. Ability to feel something physical. A mental process (seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from immediate external stimulation of a sense organ.

59
Q

What is Sensory?

A

Relating to sensation or to the senses. Conveying nerve impulses from the sense organs. Ie. Nociceptors are specialized afferent receptors that transmit encoding information (noxious stimuli), to the CNS via sensory
neurons

60
Q

What is Perception?

A

The state of being or process of becoming aware of something through the senses. Awareness of the elements of the environment through physical sensation

61
Q

T/F Sensation can occur without perception?

A

*True
Sensation can occur without perception

62
Q

What is bottom-up perception in the context of pain?

A

Bottom-up perception refers to the process of building perceptions from sensory input without contextual information from previous experiences.

63
Q

How does bottom-up perception function when a needle is jabbed without prior knowledge?

A

When jabbed with a needle without knowing, you may either:
- Feel the pain in your arm (the sensation occurs and is perceived).
-Feel no pain in your arm (the sensation occurs, but you do not perceive it at the time; you may feel pain later).

64
Q

What is top-down perception in the context of pain?

A

Top-down perception involves the interpretation of sensations influenced by previous knowledge, experiences, and mental frameworks.

65
Q

How does top-down perception function when you know a needle is being jabbed?

A

When you know someone jabbed you with a needle, you may either:
-Feel a pain in your arm (the sensation occurs, and you perceive it as important, possibly very painful).
-Feel no pain in your arm (the sensation occurs, but you do not perceive it due to being preoccupied with a dangerous situation, like being scared for your life).

66
Q

What is the key takeaway regarding pain perception?

A

Pain is a perceptive process that can vary greatly depending on the context and previous experiences influencing how sensations are interpreted.