Psychology of pain Flashcards
Why is pain a social communicator?
Recruits people to support and help
Examples of pain but little tissue damage
- Phantom limb pain
- Headaches
- Period pain
- Paper cut
- Hangover
Examples of lots of tissue damage but little pain
- Cancer
- Battlefield injuries
- Bruises
- Rugby
The pain cycle
Persistant pain
Being less active
Loss of fitness, weak muscles and joint tissues
Lack of energy and tiredness
Stress, anxiety, fear, anger, frustration
Negative thinking, fears about pain and future
Shame/guilt/grief/depression etc
Time off work, money worries, relationship concerns
Factors amplifying physical pain
Temperature and weather
Factors that dampen down physical pain
Temperature, TENS
Factors that amplify psychological pain
Stress, social isolation, insomnia, catastrophising, anger, depression
Factors that reduce psychological pain
Cognitive balance, goal-setting, sleep
Factors that amplify behavioural pain
Rushing/pushing on inactivity
Factors that reduce behavioural pain
Pacing, exercise, relaxation
Chemical factors that increase pain
Nicotine
Chemical dependency
Diet
Chemical factors that reduce pain
Medication
Diet
Structural factors that increase pain
Surgery
Extensive trauma
Structural factors that decrease pain
Surgery
Characteristics of pain and emotion
- Overlap in areas of brain involved in pain perception and emotion perception
- Negative effect (depression, anxiety and anger) a common response to pain
- Emotions modulate the pain experience
- Alexithymia (can’t name emotions) implicated in aetiology of persistant pain
- ISTDP and reduction in pain symptoms
