Chronic low back pain and inaccurate predictions of pain: is being too tough a risk factor for the development and maintenance of chronic pain?
The present study tests whether chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients show a tendency to overpredict or to underpredict pain. Twenty CLBP patients and 20 healthy controls underwent 6 trials of laboratory induced pressure pain. Ratings of predicted and experienced pain intensity were obtained. In contradiction with the hypothesis that CLBP patients show a generalized tendency to overpredict pain, CLBP patients showed a tendency to underpredict the laboratory pain, whereas controls appeared to be more accurate. This finding replicates a previous finding, that there may be a substantial group of CLBP patients who underestimate pain. The tendency to underpredict pain may constitute a risk factor for the development and maintenance of CLBP.
Arntz
A
A
Department of Medical Psychology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Peters
M
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*