Psychogenic pain and psychological variables: a psychometric study.
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.
Valdés
M
M
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Treserra
J
J
García
L
L
de Pablo
J
J
de Flores
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014434:Type A Personality