Demand Characteristics Underlying Differential Ratings of Sensory Versus Affective Components of Pain

Overview

Journal J Behav Med

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 1994 Aug 1

PMID 7966259

Citations 3

Authors

E Fernandez

D C Turk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In several investigations, differential ratings of sensory and affective components of pain can be explained by the expectations conveyed to subjects to provide different ratings for each pain component under conditions where they could readily recall their ratings. In Experiment I, such demand characteristics were controlled in one group by having subjects rate each pain component in a separate session 1 week apart, so as to minimize recall. This group failed to differentiate between sensory and affective pain; however, another group with demand characteristics left uncontrolled, provided disparate and parallel functions for the two pain components. These results imply that recall during concurrent ratings of the two pain components contributes to a spurious separation of ratings for each component. In the second study, with demand characteristics controlled, a medication placebo led to ratings of affective pain that were significantly lower than those for sensory pain, and a divergence between the functions for each component. This offers an approach to the veridical separation of sensory and affective components of pain.

Citing Articles

The sensory and affective components of pain: are they differentially modifiable dimensions or inseparable aspects of a unitary experience? A systematic review.

Talbot K, Madden V, Jones S, Moseley G Br J Anaesth. 2019; 123(2):e263-e272.

PMID: 31053232 PMC: 6676053. DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.03.033.

Relationships between components of emotional intelligence and physical pain in alcohol-dependent patients.

Kopera M, Brower K, Suszek H, Jakubczyk A, Fudalej S, Krasowska A J Pain Res. 2017; 10:1611-1618.

PMID: 28744154 PMC: 5513835. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S134019.

Does pain necessarily have an affective component? Negative evidence from blink reflex experiments.

Horn C, Blischke Y, Kunz M, Lautenbacher S Pain Res Manag. 2012; 17(1):15-24.

PMID: 22518363 PMC: 3299036. DOI: 10.1155/2012/478019.

References

Johnson J, Rice V . Sensory and distress components of pain: implications for the study of clinical pain. Nurs Res. 1974; 23(3):203-9. View

Rosenthal R . Covert communication in the psychological experiment. Psychol Bull. 1967; 67(5):356-67. DOI: 10.1037/h0024529. View

. Classification of chronic pain. Descriptions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. Prepared by the International Association for the Study of Pain, Subcommittee on Taxonomy. Pain Suppl. 1986; 3:S1-226. View

Clark W . Sensory-decision theory analysis of the placebo effect on the criterion for pain and thermal sensitivity. J Abnorm Psychol. 1969; 74(3):363-71. DOI: 10.1037/h0027509. View

Chen A, Dworkin S, Haug J, Gehrig J . Human pain responsivity in a tonic pain model: psychological determinants. Pain. 1989; 37(2):143-160. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(89)90126-7. View

Moore P, Duncan G, Scott D, Gregg J, Ghia J . The submaximal effort tourniquet test: its use in evaluating experimental and chronic pain. Pain. 1979; 6(3):375-382. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(79)90055-1. View

Harkins S, Price D, Braith J . Effects of extraversion and neuroticism on experimental pain, clinical pain, and illness behavior. Pain. 1989; 36(2):209-218. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(89)90025-0. View

Gracely R . Evaluation of multi-dimensional pain scales. Pain. 1992; 48(3):297-300. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(92)90076-N. View

Price D, Harkins S, Baker C . Sensory-affective relationships among different types of clinical and experimental pain. Pain. 1987; 28(3):297-307. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(87)90065-0. View

10.

FEATHER B, Chapman C, Fisher S . The effect of a placebo on the perception of painful radiant heat stimuli. Psychosom Med. 1972; 34(4):290-4. DOI: 10.1097/00006842-197207000-00002. View

11.

Price D, Barrell J, Gracely R . A psychophysical analysis of experimential factors that selectively influence the affective dimension of pain. Pain. 1980; 8(2):137-149. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(88)90001-2. View

12.

Fernandez E, Milburn T . Sensory and affective predictors of overall pain and emotions associated with affective pain. Clin J Pain. 1994; 10(1):3-9. DOI: 10.1097/00002508-199403000-00002. View

13.

Knox V, Morgan A, Hilgard E . Pain and suffering in ischemia. The paradox of hypnotically suggested anesthesia as contradicted by reports from the "hidden observer". Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974; 30(6):840-7. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1974.01760120090013. View

14.

Fernandez E, Turk D . Sensory and affective components of pain: separation and synthesis. Psychol Bull. 1992; 112(2):205-17. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.2.205. View

15.

Smith G, Egbert L, Markowitz R, Mosteller F, BEECHER H . An experimental pain method sensitive to morphine in man: the submaximum effort tourniquet technique. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1966; 154(2):324-32. View

16.

Johnson J . Effects of accurate expectations about sensations on the sensory and distress components of pain. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1973; 27(2):261-75. DOI: 10.1037/h0034767. View

17.

Duncan G, Bushnell C, Lavigne G . Comparison of verbal and visual analogue scales for measuring the intensity and unpleasantness of experimental pain. Pain. 1989; 37(3):295-303. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(89)90194-2. View