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Jaltare KP, Manresa JB, Niwa S, Torta DM. Verbal Support From a Stranger Reduces the Development of Mechanical Hypersensitivity: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Evidence. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104599. [PMID: 38866120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Hand-holding reduces experimentally induced acute pain and buffers against the development of mechanical secondary hypersensitivity, an indirect proxy of central sensitization. Here, we tested if verbal support from a stranger, a common occurrence in clinical contexts, exerts the same effects. In this preregistered study, 44 healthy female participants were assigned to an alone or support group whereby a supportive female stranger encouraged them through the painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity. Mechanical hypersensitivity was measured via self-reports and by the size of the anteroposterior and mediolateral spread of mechanical hypersensitivity. We investigated the moderating role of attachment style on self-reports and the effects of support on skin conductance level, salivary cortisol, and pinprick-evoked potentials. We also tested whether theta/beta ratio in the resting-state electroencephalogram predicted mechanical hypersensitivity. Self-reported ratings and the late part of the pinprick-evoked potentials were reduced in the support group, but the spread of mechanical hypersensitivity was not. Attachment anxiety and avoidance moderated the self-reported intensity such that individuals with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance scores reported lower intensity ratings in the support group. No significant effect of the verbal support was observed on skin conductance level and salivary cortisol. The theta/beta ratio did not predict the extent of hypersensitivity. Our data indicate that, in women, verbal support during intense pain leading to hypersensitivity is effective on some behavioral outcomes, but altogether the lack of group differences in cortisol, self-reported stress, and skin conductance does not provide strong support for the stress-buffering hypothesis. PERSPECTIVE: Verbal support by a stranger during a painful procedure leading to secondary mechanical hypersensitivity attenuated the development of some measures of mechanical hypersensitivity and associated neural responses in healthy female participants. No evidence was found for the role of stress. DATA AVAILABILITY: The authors will make all data available upon request.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan Prafull Jaltare
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - José Biurrun Manresa
- Institute for Research and Development in Bioengineering and Bioinformatics (IBB-CONICET-UNER), Oro Verde, Argentina
| | - Saya Niwa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Diana M Torta
- Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Heikkinen AL, Tikkanen V, Hänninen T, Hublin C, Koivisto AM, Saari TT, Remes AM, Paajanen TI, Krüger J. Utility of the INECO Frontal Screening and the Frontal Assessment Battery in detecting executive dysfunction in early-onset cognitive impairment and dementia. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2024; 30:339-349. [PMID: 37800312 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617723000619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) are executive dysfunction (ED) screening tools that can distinguish patients with neurodegenerative disorders from healthy controls and, to some extent, between dementia subtypes. This paper aims to examine the suitability of these tests in assessing early-onset cognitive impairment and dementia patients. METHOD In a memory clinic patient cohort (age mean = 57.4 years) with symptom onset at ≤65 years, we analyzed the IFS and the FAB results of four groups: early-onset dementia (EOD, n = 49), mild cognitive impairment due to neurological causes (MCI-n, n = 34), MCI due to other causes such as depression (MCI-o, n = 99) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD, n = 14). Data were gathered at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. We also studied the tests' accuracy in distinguishing EOD from SCD patients and ED patients from those with intact executive functioning. Correlations with neuropsychological measures were also studied. RESULTS The EOD group had significantly (p < .05) lower IFS and FAB total scores than the MCI-o and SCD groups. Compared with the FAB, the IFS showed more statistically significant (p < .05) differences between diagnostic groups, greater accuracy (IFS AUC = .80, FAB AUC = .75, p = .036) in detecting ED and marginally stronger correlations with neuropsychological measures. We found no statistically significant differences in the EOD group scores from baseline up to 6- or 12-months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS While both tests can detect EOD among memory clinic patients, the IFS may be more reliable in detecting ED than the FAB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Leena Heikkinen
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- MRC, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Work Ability and Working Careers, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Veera Tikkanen
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- MRC, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomo Hänninen
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Christer Hublin
- Work Ability and Working Careers, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne M Koivisto
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Unit of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Geriatrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Toni T Saari
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Unit of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Remes
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- MRC, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu I Paajanen
- Work Ability and Working Careers, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Krüger
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- MRC, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Neurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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3
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Tabet S, Laguë-Beauvais M, Francoeur C, Sheehan A, Abouassaly M, Marcoux J, Dagher JH, Ursulet A, Colucci E, de Guise E. Longitudinal recovery of executive functions and social participation prediction following traumatic brain injury. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:134-143. [PMID: 34807801 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2021.2002866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is heterogeneity across studies and a lack of knowledge about recovery of EFs over time following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Also, EFs are associated with functional outcome, but there is still a gap in knowledge concerning the association between EFs and social participation following TBI. For this reason, we aim to (1) measure the recovery of the three executive function subcomponents of Miyake's model, namely flexibility, updating and inhibition between the acute phase (T1) and 6 months post TBI (T2) and (2) measure the relationship between EFs and social participation after TBI. Thus, a prospective longitudinal study that included 75 patients with TBI (mild and moderate-severe) and 50 patients with orthopedic injuries (controls) without brain damage was carried out. An extensive EFs test battery was administered at T1 and T2 whereas the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 (MPAI-4) was administered only at T2. In contrast with the controls, both TBI groups improved significantly between T1 and T2 on WMS-III Mental Control test (MC) and the D-KEFS Category Switching Condition of the Verbal Fluency task (SVF). Results also showed a simple time effect for the WAIS-IV Digit span and the Hayling tests. Moreover, there was an association between the SVF test and social participation (MPAI-4) at T2. In conclusion, the MC and SVF tests were found to be the best tools for measuring recovery of EFs following TBI. The SVF test was the most likely measure of EFs to give the neuropsychologist an idea of the patient's social participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Tabet
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
| | - Maude Laguë-Beauvais
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Traumatic brain Injury Program, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Coralie Francoeur
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
| | - Audrey Sheehan
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
| | - Michel Abouassaly
- Traumatic brain Injury Program, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Judith Marcoux
- Traumatic brain Injury Program, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jehane H Dagher
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
- Traumatic brain Injury Program, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, McGill University Health Centre-Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adriana Ursulet
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
| | - Emma Colucci
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
| | - Elaine de Guise
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Laval, Canada
- Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain (CRIR) , Montreal, Canada
- Research Institute-McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
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Raudenská J, Šteinerová V, Vodičková Š, Raudenský M, Fulková M, Urits I, Viswanath O, Varrassi G, Javůrková A. Arts Therapy and Its Implications in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review. Pain Ther 2023; 12:1309-1337. [PMID: 37733173 PMCID: PMC10616022 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-023-00542-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic nonmalignant pain is recognized as a complex, dynamic, phenomenological interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors that are individual to the person suffering from it. Therefore, its management and treatment ought to entail the individual's biopsychosocial aspects that are often addressed by collaborative, inter/multidisciplinary multimodal care, as there is no biologic treatment. In an effort to enhance inter/multidisciplinary multimodal care, a narrative review of arts therapy as a mind-body intervention and its efficacy in chronic pain populations has been conducted. Changes in emotional and physical symptoms, especially pain intensity, during arts therapy sessions have also been discussed in in the context of attention distraction strategy. Arts therapy (visual art, music, dance/movement therapy, etc.) have been investigated to summarize relevant findings and to highlight further potential benefits, limitations, and future directions in this area. We reviewed 16 studies of different design, and the majority reported beneficial effects of art therapy in patients' management of chronic pain and improvement in pain, mood, stress, and quality of life. However, the results are inconsistent and unclear. It was discovered that there is a limited amount of high-quality research available on the implications of arts therapy in chronic nonmalignant pain management. Due to the reported limitations, low effectiveness, and inconclusive findings of arts therapy in the studies conducted so far, further research with improved methodological standards is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslava Raudenská
- Department of Nursing, 2nd Medical School and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Šteinerová
- Amsterdam Emotional Memory Lab, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martin Raudenský
- Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Fulková
- Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Urits
- Southcoast Physicians Group Pain Medicine, Southcoast Health, Wareham, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Omar Viswanath
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Valley Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants-Envision Physician Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Alena Javůrková
- Department of Nursing, 2nd Medical School and University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Psychology, 3rd Medical Faculty, University Hospital KV, Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Forte G, Troisi G, Favieri F, De Pascalis V, Langher V, Casagrande M. Inhibition and Heart Rate Variability in Experimentally Induced Pain. J Pain Res 2023; 16:3239-3249. [PMID: 37790193 PMCID: PMC10542212 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s418238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pain is a complex experience that requires executive functions (EFs) to be processed. The autonomic outcome of the neural networks involved in the cognitive evaluation of pain is reflected by heart rate variability (HRV), an index of self-regulation abilities. Although some results suggest a relationship between HRV, EFs, and pain, studies focusing on this three-way relationship are still scarce. Objective This study aims to investigate the relationship between pain, cognitive, and autonomic mechanisms, hypothesizing an association between resting HRV and both cognitive and motor inhibition as indices of executive functioning. This relationship was investigated after an experimental-induced pain. Methods Seventy-six young adults were exposed to the Cold Pressure Arm Warp to induce experimental pain. HRV was collected, and cognitive tasks were administered to assess executive performance. Results The results showed that (1) HRV indices significantly increased during pain stimulation, (2) cognitive inhibition was positively correlated with vagal indices and with pain parameters, (3) both inhibition tasks significantly predicted pain threshold while the performance on the Stroop Task predicted pain tolerance. Conclusion Results suggest a three-way relationship. Further research would focus on the role of HRV and cognitive strategies in pain management in chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Giovanna Troisi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Francesca Favieri
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Langher
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
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6
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Nguyen T, Behrens M, Broscheid KC, Bielitzki R, Weber S, Libnow S, Malczewski V, Baldauf L, Milberger X, Jassmann L, Wustmann A, Meiler K, Drange S, Franke J, Schega L. Associations between gait performance and pain intensity, psychosocial factors, executive functions as well as prefrontal cortex activity in chronic low back pain patients: A cross-sectional fNIRS study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1147907. [PMID: 37215712 PMCID: PMC10196398 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1147907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Activities of daily living, such as walking, are impaired in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients compared to healthy individuals. Thereby, pain intensity, psychosocial factors, cognitive functioning and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity during walking might be related to gait performance during single and dual task walking (STW, DTW). However, to the best of our knowledge, these associations have not yet been explored in a large sample of CLBP patients. Method Gait kinematics (inertial measurement units) and PFC activity (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) during STW and DTW were measured in 108 CLBP patients (79 females, 29 males). Additionally, pain intensity, kinesiophobia, pain coping strategies, depression and executive functioning were quantified and correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the associations between parameters. Results The gait parameters showed small correlations with acute pain intensity, pain coping strategies and depression. Stride length and velocity during STW and DTW were (slightly to moderately) positively correlated with executive function test performance. Specific small to moderate correlations were found between the gait parameters and dorsolateral PFC activity during STW and DTW. Conclusion Patients with higher acute pain intensity and better coping skills demonstrated slower and less variable gait, which might reflect a pain minimization strategy. Psychosocial factors seem to play no or only a minor role, while good executive functions might be a prerequisite for a better gait performance in CLBP patients. The specific associations between gait parameters and PFC activity during walking indicate that the availability and utilization of brain resources are crucial for a good gait performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toan Nguyen
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Behrens
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kim-Charline Broscheid
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Robert Bielitzki
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Weber
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Libnow
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Victoria Malczewski
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Baldauf
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Xenia Milberger
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lena Jassmann
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anne Wustmann
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Magdeburg gGmbH, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Meiler
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Magdeburg gGmbH, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Drange
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Magdeburg gGmbH, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Franke
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Klinikum Magdeburg gGmbH, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lutz Schega
- Department of Sport Science, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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7
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Delgado-Gallén S, Soler MD, Albu S, Pachón-García C, Alviárez-Schulze V, Solana-Sánchez J, Bartrés-Faz D, Tormos JM, Pascual-Leone A, Cattaneo G. Cognitive Reserve as a Protective Factor of Mental Health in Middle-Aged Adults Affected by Chronic Pain. Front Psychol 2021; 12:752623. [PMID: 34759872 PMCID: PMC8573249 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is associated with worse mental health and cognitive impairment, which can be a cause or a consequence of brain structure and function alterations, e.g., maladaptive plasticity, antinociceptive system dysregulation. Cognitive reserve reflects the effectiveness of the internal connections of the brain and it has been shown to be a protective factor in brain damage, slowing cognitive aging or reducing the risk of mental health disorders. The current study explored the impact of chronic pain on psychosocial factors, mental health, and cognition. Furthermore, we aimed to examine the role of cognitive reserve in the relationship between mental health and chronic pain clinical characteristics in middle-aged adults. The study group consisted of 477 volunteers from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative who completed online surveys on pain, mental health, cognitive reserve, and psychosocial factors (sleep and quality of life). We described the differences in sociodemographic data, psychosocial factors, mental health, and self-perceived cognitive impairment, and neuropsychological assessment, between participants reporting pain compared with those without pain, as well as the main characteristics of the chronic pain group. Finally, to study the role of cognitive reserve in the modulation of the relationship between chronic pain and mental health, we compared variables between subgroups of participants with high/low pain intensity and cognitive reserve. The results showed that chronic pain was reported by 45.5% of middle-aged adults. Our results revealed that participants with chronic pain were older and had worse health status than people without pain. The presence of chronic pain affected working memory, mental health, and daily life activities. Moreover, cognitive reserve moderated the influence of pain intensity on mental health, resulting in less mental health affection in people suffering from high pain intensity with high cognitive reserve. In conclusion, the construct of the cognitive reserve could explain differential susceptibility between chronic pain and its mental health association and be a powerful tool in chronic pain assessment and treatment, principally due to its modifiable nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Delgado-Gallén
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Dolors Soler
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Sergiu Albu
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Catherine Pachón-García
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanessa Alviárez-Schulze
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Solana-Sánchez
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - David Bartrés-Faz
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Tormos
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Fundació Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gabriele Cattaneo
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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8
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Pain Processing in Cognitive Impairment and Its Association with Executive Function and Memory: Which Neurocognitive Factor Takes the Lead? Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11101319. [PMID: 34679384 PMCID: PMC8533810 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that individuals with cognitive impairment present with disturbed forms of pain processing of still unknown origin. As a neurocognitive factor, executive functions have become favored candidates for explanation. For further insights, we aimed at comparing executive functions and memory in their association with parameters indicating onset and escalation of pain perception. Subjective ratings of experimentally induced pressure pain applied in ascending series were assessed in older individuals with (N = 32) and without mild cognitive impairments (MCI) (N = 32). We investigated whether executive functioning (Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B), semantic fluency) or memory (word list and figure recall) were more closely linked to the onset and the escalation of pain. For the MCI group, a strong linkage between pain responses and the TMT-B could be found, i.e., poor test performance was associated with weak pain onset but strong pain escalation. The contribution of memory functions was less substantial and systematic. The prominent role of executive function for pain processing in individuals with MCI could be replicated by a test of cognitive flexibility. This lack of adaptability let individuals with MCI be less vigilant to pain at the beginning but allows for escalating pain in the further course. Thus, being first not sufficiently prepared and later overwhelmed as regards pain may be an early problem in MCI individuals with reduced executive functioning.
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9
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Gunnarsson H, Agerström J. Pain and social cognition: does pain lead to more stereotyped judgments based on ethnicity and age? Scand J Pain 2021; 20:611-621. [PMID: 32101530 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2019-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and aims Previous research on pain and cognition has largely focused on non-social cognitive outcomes (e.g. attention, problem solving). This study examines the relationship between pain and stereotyping, which constitutes a fundamental dimension of social cognition. Drawing on dual process theories of cognition, it was hypothesized that higher levels of pain would increase stereotyped judgments based on ethnicity and age. The hypothesis was tested in conjunction with experimentally induced pain (Study 1) and clinical pain (Study 2). Methods In Study 1, experimental pain was induced with the cold pressor method on a between-subjects basis. Participants (n = 151) completed a judgment task that assessed to what extent they relied on stereotypes (ethnic and age) when estimating other people's cognitive performance. In Study 2, 109 participants with clinical, musculoskeletal pain completed the same stereotype judgment task. Correlations between stereotyped judgments and various pain qualities (intensity, interference with daily activities, duration, and persistence) were performed. Results In Study 1, pain induced participants did not form significantly more stereotyped judgments compared to pain-free participants. However, higher reported pain intensity was associated with more ethnically stereotyped judgments. In Study 2, there were no significant correlations between different aspects of clinical pain and stereotyped judgments. Conclusions The results provide weak support for the hypothesis that pain increases stereotyped judgments. This was the case for both experimentally induced pain and clinical pain. The present study is the first to investigate the link between pain and stereotyping, suggesting that stereotypical judgments may be a social cognitive outcome that is relatively unaffected by pain. Implications The results have practical implications for the clinic, for example, where chronic pain patients may not have greater difficulties interacting with health care professionals that are members of a stereotyped social group (e.g. ethnic).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Gunnarsson
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, 351 95 Växjö, Sweden.,Helsa Vårdcentral, Osby, Sweden, Phone: +46772 28 80 00, Fax: +46470 832 17
| | - Jens Agerström
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Bunk S, Zuidema S, Koch K, Lautenbacher S, De Deyn PP, Kunz M. Pain processing in older adults with dementia-related cognitive impairment is associated with frontal neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 106:139-152. [PMID: 34274699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Experimental pain research has shown that pain processing seems to be heightened in dementia. It is unclear which neuropathological changes underlie these alterations. This study examined whether differences in pressure pain sensitivity and endogenous pain inhibition (conditioned pain modulation (CPM)) between individuals with a dementia-related cognitive impairment (N=23) and healthy controls (N=35) are linked to dementia-related neurodegeneration. Pain was assessed via self-report ratings and by analyzing the facial expression of pain using the Facial Action Coding System. We found that cognitively impaired individuals show decreased CPM inhibition as assessed by facial responses compared to healthy controls, which was mediated by decreased gray matter volume in the medial orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex in the patient group. This study confirms previous findings of intensified pain processing in dementia when pain is assessed using non-verbal responses. Our findings suggest that a loss of pain inhibitory functioning caused by structural changes in prefrontal areas might be one of the underlying mechanisms responsible for amplified pain responses in individuals with a dementia-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffie Bunk
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Sytse Zuidema
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kathrin Koch
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Peter P De Deyn
- Alzheimer Center Groningen, Department Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Kunz
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Psychology and Sociology, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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Is clinical, musculoskeletal pain associated with poorer logical reasoning? Pain Rep 2021; 6:e929. [PMID: 33997585 PMCID: PMC8116037 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical pain does not seem to be considerably related to logical reasoning ability, which seems consistent with the effect of experimental pain on logical reasoning. Introduction: It has been hypothesized that pain disrupts system 2 processes (eg, working memory) presumed to underlie logical reasoning. A recent study examining the impact of experimentally induced pain on logical reasoning found no evidence of an effect. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether clinical pain, which is qualitatively different from experimental pain, would lower the ability to reason logically. Methods: Ninety-six participants completed a questionnaire containing 3 different logical reasoning tasks (the cognitive reflection test, the belief bias syllogisms task, and the conditional inference task), questions about pain variables (present pain intensity, pain intensity during the last 24 hours, the influence of pain on daily activities, pain duration, and pain persistence), questions about other pain-related states (anxiety, depression, and fatigue), and pain-relieving medication. Correlations between the logical reasoning tasks and the pain variables were calculated. Results: For 2 of the 3 logical reasoning tasks (the cognitive reflection test and the belief bias syllogisms task), clinical pain was unrelated to logical reasoning. Performance on context-free logical reasoning showed a significant negative correlation with present pain intensity, but not with the other pain variables. Conclusion: This finding that logical reasoning ability is largely unrelated to clinical pain is highly consistent with previous research on experimentally induced pain. Pain should probably not constitute a significant barrier to logical reasoning in everyday life.
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The Predictive Role of Executive Functions and Psychological Factors on Chronic Pain after Orthopaedic Surgery: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10100685. [PMID: 32998214 PMCID: PMC7601771 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10100685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevention and treatment of chronic post-surgical pain should be based on the early identification of patients at risk. The presence of a deficit in executive functions, along with the presence of psychological risk factors, could impair the use of appropriate pain coping strategies and might facilitate the transition to chronic post-surgical pain. A longitudinal cohort study was implemented. Patients listed for orthopaedic surgery were enrolled. Variables measured before surgery were pain intensity, the sensory, affective, cognitive and mixed components of pain, state and trait variables associated with the psychological status of the patient, fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, visual attention and cognitive flexibility. Pain intensity and the components of pain were re-evaluated after surgery and after three months. A linear mixed model was used to assess the predictors of pain intensity, and a multivariate linear mixed model was used to assess the predictors of the pain components. 167 patients were enrolled. Controlling for sex, age, pain duration and surgical procedure, catastrophizing and visual attention were predictors of pain intensity at follow-up. The sensory component of pain was predicted by state anxiety, healthcare-related fears, pain catastrophizing and visual attention. Anxiety and catastrophizing were predictors of the affective and evaluative components of pain. The mixed component of pain was predicted by state anxiety, healthcare-related fears and pain catastrophizing. Executive functions, along with psychological risk factors, shape the course of post-surgical pain. The efficacy of preventive and rehabilitation treatment could be possibly enhanced if these factors are treated.
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Bunk S, Emch M, Koch K, Lautenbacher S, Zuidema S, Kunz M. Pain Processing in Older Adults and Its Association with Prefrontal Characteristics. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10080477. [PMID: 32722197 PMCID: PMC7465457 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10080477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is known to affect nociceptive processing, e.g., the ability to inhibit pain. This study aims to investigate whether pain responses in older individuals are associated with prefrontal characteristics, namely (i) executive functioning performance and (ii) structural brain variations in the prefrontal cortex. Heat and pressure stimuli were applied to assess pressure pain sensitivity and endogenous pain inhibition in 46 healthy older individuals. Executive functioning performance was assessed in three domains (i.e., cognitive inhibition, shifting, and updating) and structural brain variations were assessed in both gray and white matter. Overall pain responses were significantly associated with the executive functioning domains cognitive inhibition and shifting. However, no specific type of pain response showed an especially strong association. Endogenous pain inhibition specifically showed a significant association with gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex and with variations in white matter structure of tracts connecting the prefrontal cortex with the periaqueductal gray. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that these variations in the prefrontal cortex can explain variance in pain inhibition beyond what can be explained by executive functioning. This might indicate that known deficits in pain inhibition in older individuals are associated with structural variations in prefrontal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffie Bunk
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (S.Z.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-503616686
| | - Mónica Emch
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (M.E.); (K.K.)
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kathrin Koch
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, 81675 Munich, Germany; (M.E.); (K.K.)
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Sytse Zuidema
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (S.Z.); (M.K.)
| | - Miriam Kunz
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands; (S.Z.); (M.K.)
- Department of Medical Psychology and Sociology, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
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