title: Differences on the projective hand test among chronic pain patients reporting three different pain experiences.
abstract: This study examined personality differences among individuals experiencing 3 different types of pain. The projective Hand Test was administered to 90 individuals who were seeking treatment at a pain clinic in an urban area of the southeast United States. These people were seeking treatment for either arthritis (n = 31), fibromyalgia (n = 29), or migraine headaches (n = 30). A 2 (gender) x 3 (pain group) x Age Group multivariate analysis of variance was conducted using the quantitative Hand Test scoring variables as dependent measures. Results indicated that individuals who were seeking treatment for migraine headaches had a higher production rate of responses involving exhibitionistic displays (EXH) than individuals in the other 2 groups. Individuals who were seeking treatment for fibromyalgia had a higher production rate of responses indicating fear and phobic concerns (FEAR) than individuals in the other 2 groups. Individuals who were seeking treatment for arthritis had a higher production rate of Active (ACT) responses than individuals in the other 2 groups. Possible causes and consequences of these effects are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University-Newark 43055, USA. panek.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Panek
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Skowronski
authors.forename: Edwin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010551:Personality; D011386:Projective Techniques; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States