Attention to chronic pain is dependent upon pain-related fear

Reference:

Crombez, G., Eccleston, C., Baeyens, F., van Houdenhove, B. and van den Broeck, A., 1999. Attention to chronic pain is dependent upon pain-related fear. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 47 (5), pp. 403-410.

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Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(99)00046-X

Abstract

Pain interrupts, distracts, and is difficult to disengage from. In this study, the role of pain-related fear in moderating attentional interference produced by chronic pain was investigated. Forty chronic pain patients completed a list of questionnaires assessing pain severity, pain-related fear (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia), and negative affect (Negative Emotionality scale). Attentional interference was measured by a numerical interference test. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the attentional interference was best predicted by the interaction between pain severity and pain-related fear. These results are discussed in terms of how pain-related fear creates a hypervigilance to pain.

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