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Psychogenic pain and psychological variables: a psychometric study
M Valdés1, J Treserra, L García
1Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Women with psychogenic pain exhibit higher neuroticism and suspicion, alongside reduced physical aggression. They also show increased dissimulation, indicating potential use of denial as a defense mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Psychogenic pain is a complex condition affecting numerous individuals.
- Understanding the psychological underpinnings of psychogenic pain is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate specific psychological traits and defense mechanisms in women diagnosed with psychogenic pain.
- To compare these traits with a matched control group of healthy subjects.
Main Methods:
- A psychometric study was conducted on 41 women diagnosed with psychogenic pain using DSM-III criteria.
- Key psychological variables including Type A behavior, extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, dissimulation, and hostility-aggressivity were assessed.
- A matched control group was used for comparison.
Main Results:
- Patients with psychogenic pain were significantly more neurotic and suspicious than the control group.
- The psychogenic pain group demonstrated significantly lower physical aggression.
- Higher scores in dissimulation were observed in the psychogenic pain sample, suggesting denial as a defense mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Psychogenic pain in women is associated with specific psychological profiles, including heightened neuroticism, suspicion, and a tendency towards denial.
- These findings highlight the importance of psychological assessment in managing psychogenic pain.
- Further research into defense mechanisms in psychogenic pain is warranted.