Pain, expectations
Conditions
Interventions
Positive outcome expectations will be induced by verbal suggestions. Participants will be told that they will experience either less or more pain or receive no instruction (the nature of the instructi
Sponsors
Leiden University
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Healthy male and female participants 2. Between 18 and 35 years old 3. Good understanding of written and spoken Dutch
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Refusal to provide written informed consent 2. Severe somatic or psychological morbidity (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, chronic pain or DSM-V psychiatric disorders) that would adversely affect participant’s safety or that might interfere with the study protocol 3. Substance abuse 4. Problems with hearing or vision 5. Recent injury to body parts to be tested (hands, arms) 6. Current pain complaints 7. Recent use of medication 8. Raynaud syndrome 9. Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary study outcome is the difference in pressure pain thresholds (which will be determined by averaging 3 pressure pain threshold determinations following validated protocols) in combination with the cold pressor test compared to the determination without the cold pressor test. These difference scores will be compared between the three groups: a analgesia group in which participants receive positive verbal suggestions, a hyperalgesia group in which participants receive negative verbal suggestions and a control group in which participants receive no verbal suggestions. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary analyses will be conducted to examine sex differences in the role of expectations on CPM, the relationship between CPM and cognitive inhibition, and the effects of expectancy manipulation on other outcome parameters (e.g., pain ratings, psychophysiological assessments of heart rate and skin conductance levels and subjective stress). Pain and subjective stress levels will be assessed using 0-10 cm visual analog scales. In addition, the possible influence of psychological parameters on outcomes will be explored. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactDieuwke S. (Judy) Veldhuijzen
Outcome results
None listed