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Memory for chronic pain intensity: correlates of accuracy
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Orebro Medical Center, Sweden. 1p6
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|June 1, 1991
Summary
Most chronic pain patients overestimate their past pain intensity. Helplessness and psychosocial work factors significantly correlate with pain memory accuracy, suggesting their importance in chronic pain recall.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pain Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts patients' lives.
- Accurate recall of pain intensity is crucial for treatment evaluation.
- Psychosocial factors may influence memory and pain perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of psychosocial factors on the recall of chronic pain intensity.
- To assess the relationship between memory for pain and factors like depression, helplessness, and work environment.
Main Methods:
- 61 female patients with chronic back pain rated pain intensity.
- Pain recall was assessed 18 months after baseline.
- Questionnaires measured depression, helplessness, daily activities, and psychosocial work environment.
Main Results:
- Approximately 70% of patients overestimated their remembered pain intensity.
- No significant correlation was found between recall accuracy and depression, daily activities, or sleep quality.
- Significant correlations were observed between recall accuracy and helplessness, and four psychosocial work environment items.
Conclusions:
- Memory for chronic pain intensity is often inaccurate, with a tendency to overestimate.
- Helplessness and psychosocial work environment factors appear to play a significant role in the memory of chronic pain intensity.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering psychosocial aspects in understanding chronic pain recall.