title: Endogenous opioids may buffer effects of anger arousal on sensitivity to subsequent pain.
abstract: Evidence suggests that anger and pain are related, yet it is not clear by what mechanisms anger may influence pain. We have proposed that effects of anger states and traits on pain sensitivity are partly opioid mediated. In this study, we test the extent to which analgesic effects of acute anger arousal on subsequent pain sensitivity are opioid mediated by subjecting healthy participants to anger-induction and pain either under opioid blockade (oral naltrexone) or placebo. Participants were 160 healthy individuals. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects opioid blockade design is used, with participants assigned randomly to one of two drug conditions (placebo or naltrexone), and to one of two Task Orders (anger-induction followed by pain or vice versa). Results of ANOVAs show significant Drug Condition x Task Order interactions for sensory pain ratings (MPQ-Sensory) and angry and nervous affect during pain-induction, such that participants who underwent anger-induction prior to pain while under opioid blockade (naltrexone) reported more pain, and anger and nervousness than those who underwent the tasks in the same order, but did so on placebo. Results suggest that for people with intact opioid systems, acute anger arousal may trigger endogenous opioid release that reduces subsequent responsiveness to pain. Conversely, impaired endogenous opioid function, such as that found among some chronic pain patients, may leave certain people without optimal buffering from the otherwise hyperalgesic affects of anger arousal, and so may lead to greater pain and suffering following upsetting or angry events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago, IL, USA Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruehl
authors.forename: Ok Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magid
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chont
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Goodlad
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gilliam
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Somar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone
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