Autonomic indices and reactive pain reports on the McGill Pain Questionnaire

Skin conductance and heart rate measures obtained from subjects previous to, during, and after their performance of the cold pressor task were correlated with their responses to the McGill Pain Questionnaire administered immediately after the completion of the cold pressor task. A reliable relationship between skin conductance level and responses on the evaluative scale of the MPA was found in the resting state, while anticipating the cold pressor task and during this task. Heart rate was related to these pain reports only during the warning or anticipation period. These findings were interpreted as supporting the use of the McGill Pain Questionnaire in the assessment of the reactive component of pain. They also suggest the utility of further research into autonomic indices as physiological correlates of this reactive aspect of pain.