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Conditioned pain modulation and pain sensitivity in functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study
Marie Weinreich Petersen1, Sine Skovbjerg2,3, Jens Søndergaard Jensen1
1Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
European Journal of Pain (London, England)
|July 26, 2021
Summary
This study found no strong evidence of altered pain regulation in functional somatic disorders (FSD) within a general population. Findings challenge the hypothesis that abnormal pain sensitivity is a core mechanism in FSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Functional somatic disorders (FSD) are hypothesized to involve disrupted pain regulation.
- Clinical observations suggest hypersensitivity in FSD patients.
- This study investigates pain sensitivity and modulation in a population-based FSD sample.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine pain sensitivity and conditioning pain modulation (CPM) in a general population sample with FSD.
- To assess associations between FSD delimitations, pain thresholds, and CPM.
- To test the hypothesis of altered pain regulation in FSD.
Main Methods:
- Assessed pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and CPM in 2,198 Danish adults.
- FSD was determined using self-reported symptom questionnaires.
- PPTs were measured at tibialis and trapezius muscles; CPM involved cold pressor stimulation.
Main Results:
- Weak associations were found between PPTs/CPM and FSD, with few exceptions.
- High PPTs were linked to lower odds of multi-organ distress and specific symptom profiles.
- High CPM was associated with higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Population-based findings do not support altered pain regulation in questionnaire-defined FSD.
- The hypothesis of abnormal pain sensitivity as a central FSD mechanism is not supported by this study.
- Further epidemiological research is needed to explore FSD pathophysiology.
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