Psychogenic Pain and Psychological Variables: a Psychometric Study

Abstract

A sample of 41 women suffering from psychogenic pain according to DSM-III diagnostic criteria were psychometrically studied, in order to ascertain if they showed specific psychological traits or mechanisms. Type A behavior, extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism and dissimulation and hostility-aggressivity traits were the psychological variables studied both in the pain sample and in a matched control group. Psychogenic pain patients were significantly more neurotic and suspicious and less physically aggressive than healthy subjects and also scored significantly higher in dissimulation, which suggests a tendency to use defense mechanisms of denial.

Psychological Profile in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain

“…In our study, we found a statistically significative correlation between neuroticism and catastrophizing, although this correlation was not clinically relevant ( p = 0.3783). Other descriptive studies in various chronic types of pain have found also high levels of neuroticism compared to control groups [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Several studies have focused on the study of neuroticism as this trait may affect the adjustment to ongoing pain, increasing suffering and disability, and potentially contributing to the development of chronic pain [ 14 ].…”

“…The personality trait that has been most studied in chronic pain is neuroticism. A considerable number of studies have found higher levels of neuroticism compared to control groups in various chronic pain types [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Other studies suggest that neuroticism may be a causal factor for chronic pain [ 14 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] and much research has focused on neuroticism as a moderator of the pain experience [ 29 ], through the creation of a heightened physical sensitivity to pain due to its inherent connection with chronically moderated anxiety [ 14 , 22 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] or influencing adjustment to pain by affecting pain-related beliefs and emotional distress [ 14 , 19 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Given the importance of psychological and personality variables in chronic pain in general and in CPP in particular [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], the paucity of studies on women and the need to expand knowledge in this field, the aim of this work was to investigate whether these variables are also present in the CPP women patients of our study and to expand, if possible, the understanding we have about the psychological profile of these patients. We also wondered whether we could find personality traits other than neuroticism that would shape a personality profile.…”