Executive functions, self-regulation, and chronic pain: a review.
BACKGROUND
Chronic pain conditions are complicated and challenging to live with. Capacity to adjust to such conditions may depend on the ability to self-regulate, that is, the ability to alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Self-regulation appears to rely on executive cognitive functions, and the current review, therefore, sought to draw attention to the impact of self-regulatory capacity and executive functions on chronic pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic pain conditions present with complex interactions of cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physiological components for which self-regulatory ability is crucial. The ability to self-regulate varies, and self-regulatory strength appears to be a limited resource that can be fatigued. The many challenges of chronic pain conditions could, therefore, tax self-regulatory strength, leading to self-regulatory deficits.


CONCLUSIONS
The current review proposes a relationship among pain, self-regulatory capacity, self-regulatory demands, executive functions, and self-regulatory fatigue, suggesting that executive functions and self-regulatory deficits are indeed part of the etiology and maintenance of chronic pain conditions.
Solberg Nes
Lise
L
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 115 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, USA.
Roach
Abbey R
AR
Segerstrom
Suzanne C
SC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D020377:Self Efficacy