Pain Intensity, Pain Thresholds
Conditions
Keywords
Pressure pain thresholds, Pain, Emotions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate if different emotional states could influence mechanical pain thresholds and other pain - related variables such as pain tolerance, pain intensity and pain - related negative affect in individuals with chronic pain.
Detailed description
Participants with chronic pain will be randomized into 4 different groups watching different short video-clips (2.20 min), while at the same time experience short-lasting, experimentally induced pain. The negative emotions group will watch an uncomfortable short video containing violence and blood, the positive emotions group will watch a video containing a stand-up comedy show, the neutral emotions group will watch a video about how to paint a house, and the control group will just wait for 2.20 min, without any instructions about what to think about. Pressure pain thresholds, pain tolerance, pain intensity and pain-related negative affect will be measured with an algometer before and after the video-clip combined with experimental pain interventions.
Interventions
Emotional intervention Description: The participant will watch a short video-clip with negative emotional content while simultaneously experience experimentally induced pain.
Sponsors
Linnaeus University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Within-subjects design
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Above 18 years of age * Fluent in Swedish * Persistent chronic pain with duration \> 6 months
Exclusion criteria
\- Known neurological disease
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure pain thresholds | Day 1: baseline PPTs are measured, intervention 2.20 min follows and intervention PPTs are measured directly after the intervention. Recruitment for single appointments for each participant will take place for 4 months. | Description: Pressure pain thresholds will be measured i kPa with a handheld algometer (Somedic AB). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain tolerance (time in seconds the left hand is immersed in cold water 1 degree C). | Day 1: During a single session (30 min), the participant will keep their hand immersed in cold water for as long as possible while watching a video. This time will be measured in seconds. | Description: The measure pain tolerance equals the time the time the participant keeps their left hand immersed in cold water (1 degree C), before they decide to withdraw their hand. This will be measured in seconds. For each participant, the maximum time to keep the hand immersed in water is 300 seconds. Participants are successively recruited for single appointments for 4 months. |
| Pain intensity on the NRS | Day 1: Pain intensity will be estimated at single session appointments (30 min) on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) after the intervention. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months. | Participants will rate their perceived pain intensity on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale) after the intervention (film-clip combined with pain induction using the cold pressor apparatus with cold water 1 degree C. This will take place on a single session appointment for each participant. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months. |
| Pain-related negative affect on the NRS-A | Day 1: Pain intensity will be estimated at single session appointments (30 min) on the NRS-A (Numerical Rating Scale-Anxiety) after the intervention. Participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months. | Description: Perceived pain-related negative affect will be estimated on the NRS-A (Numerical Rating Scale- Anxiety) after the intervention (film-clip combined with pain induction with the cold pressor apparatus with cold water 1 degree C).The pain intensity will be estimated at every single session appointment (30 min) after the intervention on the NRS (Numerical Rating Scale). The participants will be successively recruited for single session appointments for 4 months. |
Contacts
Primary ContactHelena Gunnarsson, Dr
Outcome results
None listed