Attention to chronic pain is dependent upon pain-related fear
Abstract
Pain interrupts, distracts, and is difficult to disengage from. In this study, the role of pain-related fear in moderating attentional interference produced by chronic pain was investigated. Forty chronic pain patients completed a list of questionnaires assessing pain severity, pain-related fear (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia), and negative affect (Negative Emotionality scale). Attentional interference was measured by a numerical interference test. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the attentional interference was best predicted by the interaction between pain severity and pain-related fear. These results are discussed in terms of how pain-related fear creates a hypervigilance to pain.
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Research has focused on the characteristics of pain situations that lead to the initial intrusion into the space of attention, including variables such as intensity, novelty, expectation, fear, or catastrophizing.
“Because the presence of pain does not always interfere with ongoing action, research has focused on the characteristics of pain situations that lead to the initial intrusion into the space of attention (or attentional interference), including variables such as intensity, novelty, expectation, fear, or catastrophizing.”
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The fear-avoidance model of musculoskeletal pain: Current state of scientific evidence
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Self-citationPain and motor control of the lumbopelvic region: effect and possible mechanisms
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Attention to pain and fear of pain in patients with chronic pain
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- Authors
- Crombez, G., Eccleston, C., Baeyens, F., Van Houdenhove, B., & Van Den Broeck, A.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- University of Bath (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Crombez, Geert
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1999-11
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 403-410
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2048356200
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Vlaamse regering
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Keywords
- chronic pain, fear of pain, kinesiophobia, attentional interference, attentional bias, pain intensity, negative affect, hypervigilance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention, Chronic Disease, Emotions, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Severity of Illness Index
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