Anxiety influences children's memory for procedural pain.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of temperament and trait anxiety on memory for pain.


METHODS
Three dimensions of temperament, as well as trait anxiety, were assessed in 36 children (five to 12 years of age) undergoing dental procedures; after the procedure, the children provided pain ratings. Following a six- to eight-week delay, the children reported how much pain they remembered.


RESULTS
Most children (85%) accurately recalled their pain. Temperament had no significant effect, but trait-anxious children showed a greater likelihood of recalling more pain than they initially reported, suggesting that they may negatively distort recollections of painful experiences.


CONCLUSIONS
When treating children, in particular trait-anxious children, clinicians should consider what children remember as part of pain management intervention.
Rocha
Elizabeth M
EM
Department of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia.
Marche
Tammy A
TA
von Baeyer
Carl L
CL
D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013694:Temperament