Cited by 156Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPain Mechanisms and TreatmentsPain Management and Treatment

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Towards a new model of attentional biases in the development, maintenance, and management of pain

Todd, Jemma, Sharpe, Louise, Johnson, Ameika, Nicholson Perry, Kathryn, Colagiuri, Ben, Dear, Blake F.·2015·Pain

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Abstract

Individuals with chronic pain demonstrate attentional biases (ABs) towards pain-related stimuli. However, the clinical importance of these biases is yet to be determined and a sound theoretical model for explaining the role of ABs in the development and maintenance of pain is lacking. Within this article, we (1) systematically review prospective and experimental research exploring ABs and pain outcomes in light of current theoretical models and (2) propose a theoretical framework for understanding AB in pain. Across prospective research, an attentional pattern of vigilance-avoidance was observed. Interventions targeting ABs were less consistent; however, there were promising findings among studies that found attentional training effects, particularly for laboratory research. The proposed Threat Interpretation Model suggests a relationship between threat, interpretation, and stimuli in determining attentional processes, which while tentative generates important testable predictions regarding the role of attention in pain and builds on previous theoretical and empirical work in this area.

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Authors: Todd, J., Sharpe, L., Johnson, A., Nicholson Perry, K., Colagiuri, B., & Dear, B. F.
Affiliations: ACAP University College (AU)
The University of Sydney (AU)
Macquarie University (AU)
Corresponding author: Sharpe, Louise
ORCID: Todd, Jemma
Sharpe, Louise
Colagiuri, Ben
Dear, Blake F.
Venue: Pain
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 2015-09
Volume: 156
Issue: 9
Pages: 1589-1600
ISSN: 0304-3959 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000214
OpenAlex: W1161601564
Semantic Scholar: cdbc46fff3661d23a986455869e297f9b193bd0c
Cited by: 156
References: 41
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 1
FWCI: 1.71
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Pain (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
Keywords: attentional bias, chronic pain, pain maintenance, pain development, attention training, threat interpretation
MeSH terms: Attention, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Pain, Bias, Databases, Bibliographic, Pain Management

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Towards a new model of attentional biases in the development, maintenance, and management of pain

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