title: Anxiety influences children's memory for procedural pain.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia.
authors: Elizabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Rocha
authors: Tammy A
authors: TA
authors: Marche
authors: Carl L
authors: CL
authors: von Baeyer
mesh_terms: 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