Psychology

To report the theoretical basis and design of a novel digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for people with chronic pain, the Pain Tracker Self Manager (PTSM), which had promising efficacy in a recent pilot trial.

Multiple risk factors predict temporomandibular disorders (TMD) onset, but temporal changes in risk factors and their contribution to risk of TMD have not been evaluated. The study aims were to (1) describe changes occurring in premorbid TMD risk factors when re-measured at TMD onset and six months later; and (2) determine if measures of change improve accuracy in predicting TMD incidence compared to premorbid measures alone.

Avoidance is considered a key contributor to the development and maintenance of chronic pain disability, likely through its excessive generalization. This study investigated whether acquired avoidance behavior generalizes to novel but similar movements. Using a robotic arm, participants moved their arm from a starting to a target location via one of three possible movement trajectories. For the Experimental Group, the shortest, easiest trajectory was always paired with pain (T1 = 100% reinforcement/no resistance and deviation). Pain could be partly or completely avoided by choosing increasingly effortful movements (T2 = 50% reinforcement, moderate resistance/deviation; T3 = 0% reinforcement, strongest resistance/largest deviation). A Yoked Group received the same number of painful stimuli irrespective of their own behavior. Outcomes were self-reported fear of movement-related pain, pain-expectancy, avoidance behavior, (maximal deviation from the shortest trajectory), and trajectory choice behavior. We tested generalization to three novel trajectories (G1-3) positioned next to the acquisition trajectories. Whereas acquired fear of movement-related pain and pain-expectancy generalized in the Experimental Group, avoidance behavior did not, suggesting that threat beliefs and high-cost avoidance may not be directly related. The lack of avoidance generalization may be due to a perceived context-switch in the configurations of the acquisition and the generalization phases.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a chronic vulvo-vaginal pain condition affecting 8% of premenopausal women. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in managing pain and associated sexual and psychological symptoms, and a recent study found group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to be equivalent. Our goal was to examine the long-term outcomes of these treatments and to explore mediators of change.

Adolescents who undergo major surgery experience high rates of disabling acute and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). However, little is known about the subacute period when acute to chronic pain transition occurs.

Inflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Although both electro-acupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) are known to influence systemic inflammation, little is known about the potential changes in inflammation as a working mechanism of EA and MA in KOA.

Research suggests that imagined experiences can produce brain responses similar to those produced by actual experiences. Shared brain responses that support both imagination and perception may underlie the functional nature of mental imagery. In a previous study, we combined acupuncture and imagery to develop a new treatment method, video-guided acupuncture imagery treatment (VGAIT). We found that VGAIT significantly increased pain thresholds in healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to extend our previous finding by investigating whether VGAIT can relieve symptoms in patients with chronic low back pain.

Native Americans (NAs) have a higher prevalence of chronic pain than other US racial/ethnic groups, but the mechanisms contributing to this pain disparity are under-researched. Pain catastrophizing is one of the most important psychosocial predictors of negative pain outcomes, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) has been established as a reliable and valid measure of the pain catastrophizing construct. However, before the PCS can be used to study pain risk in NAs, it is prudent to first determine whether the established 3-factor structure of the PCS also holds true for NAs.

Chronic pain in later life is a worldwide problem. In younger patients, chronic pain affects life satisfaction negatively; however, it is unknown whether this outcome will extend into old age.