L19 - Health Psychology 3 - Pain Sciences

Question 1

How is chronic pain linked to mental health?

Answer 1

1 in 5 Australian adults with severe or very severe pain also suffer depression or other mood disorders.

Pain is associated with high rates of generalised anxiety disorder, PTSD, and substance misuse.

Suicide rates are 2-3x higher for those with chronic pain compared to the general population (worldwide).

Question 2

Is pain objective?

Answer 2

No

Many people do not report pain consistant with their physical body

pain relies heavily on context

Question 3

Where is pain produced and why is it produced?

Answer 3

Pain is produced by the brain when it determines, on the balance of evidence (e.g., thoughts, beliefs, emotional state, past experiences, sensory information, etc), that producing pain will be protective.

Question 4

Which is more painful, pain associated with the nervous system or pain associated with tissue damage?

Answer 4

nervous system

this is what leads to chronic pain

Question 5

What type of model do we use to treat pain?

Answer 5

Biopsychosocial model

Question 6

What does the biopsychosocial model address when trying to fix pain

Answer 6

Question 7

What are the biological factors in the biopsychosocial model that lead to pain?

Answer 7

Nociceptive system adaptations; (e.g., intracellular efficiencies leading to increased nociception).

Brain changes, e.g., emotional-affective circuitry (or ”neurotags”) becoming linked to pain circuitry virtual body maps becoming “smudged” or imprecise.

Dysfunction of other protective systems; e.g., sympathetic nervous system (i.e., fight-or-flight) endocrine (i.e., stress) system immune system (e.g., inflammation).

Question 8

What thoughts and beliefs in the biopsychosocial model of pain can lead to chronic pain?

Answer 8

Question 9

How are emotions related to the biopsychosocial model of pain?

Answer 9

There is a a reciprocal relationship to pain and emotional disorders - increased risk of occurrence.

e.g. Sub-clinical depression, anxiety, stress, and anger.

Question 10

What are the diagnosable disorders emotional disorders that are comorbid with pain?

Answer 10

Depression, Generalised Anxiety, Health Anxiety, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

and more

Question 11

What are the 5 steps of the biopsychosocial model of pain

Answer 11

Pain - Thoughts/Beliefs - Emotions - Immune System - danger/Nocioceptive System - repeat

Question 12

What behaviours and motor system influences can impact chronic pain?

Answer 12

Question 13

What social and environmental factors can increase your chance of developing chronic pain

Answer 13

Supportive of recovery - increase chance of recovery

Punitive about pain and encouraging of taking the sick role - increase chance of chronic pain

Question 14

How does intake (diet) impact chronic health

Answer 14

Diet, drugs and alcohol can significantly prolonge chronic pain

Question 15

Our brain produces pain because it believes it is _____

Answer 15

protective

Question 16

Our brain decides when to protect us based on _______

Answer 16

context

Question 17

Explain the DIMs vs SIMs explanation for why we feel pain?

Answer 17

DIMS = Danger in Me

SIMs = Safety in Me

Pain (and inflammation [or sensitivity]) is produced when evidence of Danger In Me (DIM) outweighs evidence of Safety In Me (SIM).

Question 18

In the DIMs v SIMs model, when Marlene volunteers, works and explores - what is this an example of

Answer 18

SIMs - safety in me (feels safe)

Question 19

Is “I have good days and bad days” a DIM or a SIM

Answer 19

DIM

(may imply that pain changes occur randomly, out of her control, and she is helpless to it);

“I can’t be active until I’m healed/pain-free”.

Question 20

“I’m learning about what triggerts and aggrevates my pain. I have a plan on how active I can be (with minimal risk), no matter what level my pain is

Is this a DIM or a SIM

Answer 20

SIM

has self control and believes she can manage her pain

Question 21

When Marlene says - “My pain means something and I must still be damaged; my pain means I need to rest”

Is this a DIM or a SIM?

Answer 21

DIM

here she is hopeless; traumatic memories and beliefs related to the accident(?).

Question 22

In regards to people in Marlenes life who are -

Medical practitioners (who say there’s nothing wrong or they can’t help); lawyers (compensation claims); insurance company staff.

Are these DIMs or SIMs?

Answer 22

DIMs

They are encouraging negative beliefs about her pain and that she has no control

Question 23

In regards to people in Marlenes life who are -

Friends; family; health practitioners who can explain pain and develop a pain
treatment plan with her.

Are these DIMs or SIMs?

Answer 23

SIMs

Helping her believe that she can beat this pain

Question 24

DIM: Additional weight (higher risk of other medical complications; increased pain
and difficulty when moving), medications (e.g., opioids)?, tobacco?, alcohol?, diet?

SIM: Healthy lifestyle changes (wean off unnecessary pain medications; reduce
tobacco and alcohol intake; maintain a healthy and regular diet).

These are examples of DIMs and SIMs related to Marlenes____

Answer 24

physiological/biological state