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Ten Brink AF, Bultitude JH. Visual Sensitivity in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: An Online Study. Perception 2022; 51:187-209. [PMID: 35236184 PMCID: PMC8958570 DOI: 10.1177/03010066211072641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Perceptual anomalies can provide insights into underlying pathologies even when they are not the main symptom of many clinical conditions. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia are chronic pain conditions associated with changes in the central nervous system, possibly leading to enhanced visual sensitivity. It is unclear whether this occurs more than for people with other types of pain. We examined visual sensitivity elicited by different stimuli and in daily life, through an online study of people with CRPS (n = 57), fibromyalgia (n = 74), other pain (n = 50), and no pain (n = 89). Respondents rated changes in pain, discomfort, or distress from viewing patterns with different spatial frequencies (lower-order visual processing), and reversible figures (bistable images; higher-order visual processing). We assessed visual sensitivity in daily life using the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale and Visual Discomfort Scale. Respondents with CRPS or fibromyalgia reported more visual discomfort than pain-related and pain-free controls while viewing striped patterns and a circle, with no effect of spatial frequency. They reported more pain while viewing a nonreversible square, but not reversible figures (Necker Cube, Duck/Rabbit). Finally, they reported more daily visual sensitivity than pain-related and pain-free controls. Suppressing visual cortical activity might benefit people with CRPS or fibromyalgia.
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Ten Brink AF, Proulx MJ, Bultitude JH. Validation of the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale and Visual Discomfort Scale in Chronic Pain Conditions. Perception 2021; 50:399-417. [PMID: 33789541 DOI: 10.1177/03010066211005327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Discomfort provoked by normally innocuous visual stimuli has been reported by people with chronic pain. Visual discomfort may be higher in pain conditions in which central sensitization is implicated, such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. In an online study, we validated the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale (L-VISS) and Visual Discomfort Scale (VDS) in people with CRPS (n = 57), fibromyalgia (n = 75), and general chronic pain (n = 53); investigated whether these groups and pain-free controls (n = 125) differed in visual discomfort; and evaluated the effect of age. The L-VISS and VDS had good internal consistency. Both scales were positively related with experimentally induced visual distortions for mid-spatial frequency striped patterns, suggesting good construct validity. The scales were positively related with each other, and dissociated between the pain and pain-free groups in similar ways, suggesting good construct validity. There was no relationship between age and L-VISS scores and a small negative relationship between age and VDS scores. Visual discomfort was highest in the fibromyalgia group, followed by the CRPS group. This research confirms the utility of the L-VISS and VDS for measuring visual sensitivity in chronic pain and adds to evidence that central sensitization is an important mechanism of visual discomfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia F Ten Brink
- Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, UK.,Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, UK
| | - Michael J Proulx
- Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Department of Computer Science, Centre for Real and Virtual Environments Augmentation Labs, University of Bath, UK.,Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, UK
| | - Janet H Bultitude
- Department of Psychology, 1555University of Bath, UK; Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, UK
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Qi X, Fan H, Yang X, Chen Y, Deng W, Guo W, Wang Q, Chen E, Li T, Ma X. High level of pattern glare in major depressive disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2019; 19:415. [PMID: 31864335 PMCID: PMC6925875 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-019-2399-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual deficits have been reported in abundance by recent studies on major depressive disorder. Pattern glare manifests as visual distortions, such as the symptoms of headache, glare, eyestrain, illusions of shapes, colors, and motion when viewing repetitive striped patterns, of which some can be observed in major depressive disorder. Inspired by what mentioned, the present study aims to explore whether there exists association between pattern glare and major depressive disorder and further attempts to explore possible clinical diagnostic value of pattern glare in major depressive disorder. METHODS Twenty-four patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDDs group) were compared with 30 age-, gender- and education level-matched healthy control subjects (HCs group) on their visual stress with black-and-white gratings of different spatial frequencies-0.3 (low-SF), 2.3 (mid-SF), and 9.4 (high-SF) cycles per degree (c/deg)-which was named pattern glare test. The MDDs group divided into first episode medication-free group (fMDD) and recurrent medicated group (rMDD), comparisons of pattern glare scores (PGS) were performed within the MDDs group. We used Pearson and Spearman analysis to explore the relationship between some clinical indexes and pattern glare scores. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was used to evaluate whether pattern glare test was able to discriminate patients and healthy controls. RESULTS The mid-SF pattern glare score significantly elevated in patients with major depressive disorder compared to control subjects. No differences of pattern glare scores were found between fMDD and rMDD. A significant negative correlation between mid-high difference and age in HCs group was found. There were no correlations between other variables and pattern glare scores. The mid-SF score has limited value in the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS We observed an increased level of pattern glare in patients with major depressive disorder, reflecting the existence of cortical hyper-excitability in major depressive disorder. The mid-SF score may have a value in understanding cortical excitability in major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongwei Qi
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Fan
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao Yang
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yayun Chen
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Deng
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanjun Guo
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Eric Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Tao Li
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohong Ma
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People's Republic of China. .,West China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Restricted Spatial Windows of Visibility in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Vision (Basel) 2018; 2:vision2010002. [PMID: 31735866 PMCID: PMC6835387 DOI: 10.3390/vision2010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a devastating disorder marked by debilitating fatigue. It not well understood and its diagnosis is controversial. It is very important therefore that significant clinical features are investigated. Visual symptoms in ME represent a group of distinct, quantifiable, clinical features that could significantly improve diagnosis and provide insights into underlying pathology. The purpose of the present study was therefore to explore the effect of ME on spatial windows of visibility using the spatial contrast sensitivity function. Contrast sensitivity was determined for stationary luminance-defined sinusoidal gratings spanning a five-octave range of spatial frequencies (0.5 to 16 c/deg) in a group of 19 individuals with ME and a group of 19 matched (age, gender) controls. Compared to controls, the ME group exhibited a restricted spatial window of visibility for encoding stimulus contrast. This was characterised principally by a contrast sensitivity deficit at lower spatial frequencies and a narrower bandwidth. Our findings suggest that contrast sensitivity deficits may represent a visual marker of ME, and be indicative of abnormal visual processing at the level of the retina and in the cortical and subcortical visual pathways.
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Ludlow AK, Wilkins AJ. Atypical Sensory behaviours in children with Tourette's Syndrome and in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2016; 56:108-116. [PMID: 27286465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Certain visual disturbances make it difficult to read text and have been attributed to visual stress, also called "pattern-related visual stress". 12 Children with ASD, 12 children with Tourette's syndrome and without ASD and 12 controls, all matched on age and non verbal ability, participated in an experiment exploring sensory behaviours and visual stress. Reading rate and accuracy were assessed with the Wilkins Rate of Reading test with and without the Intuitive Overlays. Both the children with Tourette's and the children with ASD showed a higher prevalence of atypical sensory behaviours and symptoms of visual stress than the typically developing control children. Six out of twelve children with Tourette's syndrome (50%) read more accurately and over 15% more quickly with a coloured overlay. Four of the 12 children with ASD and none of the control children read over 15% more quickly with an overlay. The findings are discussed in relation to problems in sensory modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Ludlow
- University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, United Kingdom; University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
| | - Arnold J Wilkins
- University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom.
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