Suffering and chronic pain: New view on old paradigm

Author(s): Knotkova, H.

Journal/Book: Stud Psychol. 1998; 40: Dubravska Cesta 9, Bratislava 813 64, Slovak Republic. Slovak Acad Sciences Inst Experimental Psychology. 165-173.

Abstract: The AIM of our study is to analyze Suffering as specific construct, to operationalize it and to show the most simple way of its clinical testing. We suppose a continuum of states from Pain to Suffering, expressing a function of sensory-perceptual, cognitive, affective and behavioral components of the mechanism of chronic pain. VAS (Intensity of pain) and VAS-S (intensity on Suffering measure the boundary variables of this continuum. HYPOTHESIS: VAS-S correlates with factors Pain feeling, Cognitive processing and Affective-Motivation Processes. VAS correlates with Nociceptive Processes (experimentally induced pain), Pain Feeling and Affective-Motivation Processes. (These factors were isolated by exploratory and confirmatory analysis, Knotek, Blahus, Knotkova, 1997.) METHODS: 67 rheumatic patients were tested by Paintester (heat stimulator), VAS, VAS-U (Unpleasantness of pain), VAS-S, MPQ-SF, PBAPI, STAI, STAXI, BDI-SF, and ACTIVITY 5. RESULTS: The hypotheses were confirmed, with the exception of correlation of VAS with Nociceptive Processes (R-2 = .159, p < .0702). The regression analysis has shown that VAS-S significantly correlates with Pain Feeling, Cognitive Processing and Affective-Motivation Processes, and does not depend on Nociceptive Processes. VAS-S explains more common information with Nociceptive Processes, Pain Feeling, Cognitive Processing, Affective-Motivation Processes and Responses and Behavior than VAS. Biserial r between VAS-S and VAS is .360. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the supposition that VAS-S expresses general cognitive and affective assessment of different negative influences and events, from pain to existential problems. The clinical using of VAS-S shows to be easy, useful and practical.

Note: Article Knotek P, Prague Agr Univ, Hosp V Motole, Ctr Pain Management & Res, V Uvalu 84, Prague 15000 5, CZECH REPUBLIC

Keyword(s): suffering; chronic pain; cognitions; affects; regression analysis; clinical testing

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