Relations between experimentally induced tooth pain threshold changes, psychometrics and clinical pain relief following TENS. A retrospective study in patients with long-lasting pain.
The present study investigates the relationships between clinical pain relief, physiological and psychological parameters. Out of 50 patients with long-lasting musculoskeletal neck- and shoulder-pain treated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), 21 were selected and classified as responders (n = 13) or non-responders (n = 8). Tooth pain thresholds (PT) were measured before and after an experimental TENS treatment and the relative change in PT following the stimulation was calculated. Three psychometric self-inventories were administered: Zung Depression Scale, Spielberger's Trait Anxiety Scale and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Responders (R) and non-responders (NR) differed significantly from each other in the PT measurements as well as on the psychometric scales. NR exhibited higher levels of anxiety and depression, a more pronounced powerful other orientation and no change or a decrease in PT following TENS compared to R. These findings indicate relationships and interactions between physiological and psychological factors in patients with long-lasting pain.
Widerström
E G
EG
Department of Physiology, University of Göteborg, GöteborgSweden Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, GöteborgSweden Department of Medicine, Pain section, Östra Hospital, GöteborgSweden.
Åslund
P G
PG
Gustafsson
L-E
LE
Mannheimer
C
C
Carlsson
S G
SG
Andersson
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation