Positive affect and pain ratings in persons with stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability.
• Chronic pain is a common and debilitating post-stroke complication.
• Psychological factors, such as positive affect, may influence pain perception and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between positive affect at discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation and subsequent pain ratings in older adults who have experienced a stroke.
• To explore the role of positive psychological states in the pain experience of stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study analyzed data from 917 adults aged 50+ with first-time stroke from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Population (SRUP) database.
• Positive affect and pain were measured at discharge and 3 months post-discharge using validated scales.
• Statistical models (cumulative logit) were used to assess the relationship, controlling for relevant covariates.

Main Results:

• The study included 917 participants with a mean age of 71 years; 51.0% were women.
• Higher positive affect scores at discharge were significantly associated with lower pain ratings at 3-month follow-up (OR: 0.87, 95% CI 0.81, 0.92).
• This association remained significant after adjusting for discharge pain, negative affect, and demographic/clinical factors.

Conclusions:

• Positive affectivity at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation is a significant predictor of reduced pain 3 months post-stroke.
• These findings suggest that interventions targeting positive psychological strengths may be beneficial for pain management and functional recovery in elderly stroke survivors.
• Understanding the interplay between positive affect and pain can inform the development of more comprehensive post-stroke therapeutic programs.