title: 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.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology