Aftermath of sexual abuse history on adult patients suffering from chronic functional pain syndromes: an fMRI pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This preliminary study investigates the neural substrates of empathy-induced pain in multisomatoform pain patients "with vs. without" a history of sexual abuse during childhood.


METHODS
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral measurements, we compared eight abused with eight nonabused patients using an established empathy-for-pain paradigm.


RESULTS
Higher activations in left lateral and medial superior frontal gyrus as well as a nonsignificant activation of the right supplementary motor area in abused patients were detected. The nonabused participants showed higher activation of left hippocampus. There was no significant difference in subjective pain ratings between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the number of participants still needs to be increased, our main findings mirror the clinical impression and support the notion of perturbed neuroprocessing of grievous stimuli in chronic pain patients with a history of sexual abuse.
Noll-Hussong
Michael
M
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, D-81675 Muenchen, Germany. noll-hussong@tum.de
Otti
Alexander
A
Laeer
Leonhard
L
Wohlschlaeger
Afra
A
Zimmer
Claus
C
Lahmann
Claas
C
Henningsen
Peter
P
Toelle
Thomas
T
Guendel
Harald
H
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008016:Life Change Events; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*