Pain adaptation and emotional deficit

Abstract

The pain adaptation rates of high- and low-emotional deficit schizophrenics were compared. Electrical stimulation pain thresholds were calculated and retaken at four intervals after administration of shocks in a learning task. Low scorers on the General Sensation-Seeking and Thrill/Adventure Seeking scales showed significantly less pain adaptation than did their high sensation-seeking counterparts. No differences in level of adaptation appeared between high and low scorers on the Anhedonia scale or three other sensation-seeking scales. The results suggested that the neurotic emotional deficit defined by the sensation-seeking scales may be mediated by inadequate adaptation to painful stimuli.

Pain Insensitivity in Schizophrenia: A Neglected Phenomenon and Some Implications

“…Different types of painful stimuli have been investigated and patients’ responses to pain have been assessed and analyzed using a variety of methods. Studies have examined the responses of patients with schizophrenia to thermal pain (Malmo et al 1951; Hemphill et al 1952; Hall and Stride 1954; Kane et al 1971; Clark and Mehl 1976; Dworkin et al 1993 a ), electrical pain (Bender and Schilder 1930; Parsons et al 1949; Collins and Stone 1966; Ax et al 1970; Sappington 1973; Watson and Jacobs 1977; Davis et al 1979 b ; Ingvar 1980; Buchsbaum et al 1984, 1986), cold-pressor pain (Earle and Earle 1955; Maricq and Edelberg 1975; Albus et al 1982), pin-prick and pressure pain (Stengel et al 1955; Merskey et al 1962), painful pinch (May 1948), and imagined painful situations (Petrovich 1960). On the basis of verbal, avoidance, and/or psychophysiological measures, it has typically been reported that patients with schizophrenia have reduced sensitivity to pain.…”