Pain & Pain Management PSYC 4080 Health Psychology Amber M. Henslee, M.S.

Meaning of Pain __________ pain –Tissue damage to the body Psychological/emotional pain –Perception EX: hook through the arm

Stages of Pain Acute Pain –Short duration –Signals us not to do that again! –e.g., _______ Prechronic Pain –Either overcome pain or develops feelings of _________ Chronic Pain –Long duration –Either from injury or a chronic condition –e.g., lower back

Assessment Self report –Rating scales, questionnaires ___________ methods –Behavioral assessment Physiological measures –____ (Electromyography) measures muscle tension

McGill Pain Quest.

Pain Rating Scales

Signs vs. Symptoms What you can observe: Muscle rigidity Tears Grimace Groan Agitation _____________ What they report: Intensity _________ Duration Better or Worse

Pain Management Techniques Relaxation Biofeedback Hypnosis Acupuncture TENS (____________) Distraction Medication - __________ Surgery

Biofeedback DFN = info on bodily process to learn to control it –e.g., bp, hr, skin temp Electromyograph (EMG) = electrical discharge in muscle fibers __________ = skin temperature Audio/visual signal Trial/error- patient changes thoughts & behaviors

Biofeedback Outcomes Joint pain, migraine headache, hypertension Expensive technology & trained personnel –Relaxation & hypnosis cheaper & easier NOT better for _____ Better for migraines

Hypnosis __________ state Mesmer made famous Multiple DFNS: –altered state of consciousness –trait of hypnotizability Hypnotized people: –will perform minor feats –won’t hurt self or others

Hypnosis Process Relaxation Told it will decrease pain (_______) Induction = being placed under hypnosis (distraction) Instructed to think of pain differently (reinterpretation)

Hypnosis Outcomes Surgery, childbirth, dental procedures, burns, headaches Unclear: block pain OR _________ NOT better for low suggestible pts Better for high suggestible pts

Acupuncture DFN = long, thin needles inserted into body China: anesthetic for surgery Expectations –Decreases fear –Increases tolerance Releases __________? (thus decreased pain) Better for short-term pain

Distraction Other activity (e.g., pledge of allegiance, art/crafts) ______________ Better for short-term, low-level pain

Medication Morphine –Tolerance –___________ –Good for severe pain –Poor for one who is chemically dependent Local anesthetics to wounded area Block transmission (e.g., spinal cord) Brain (e.g., antidepressants)

Surgery Cut/disrupt body’s “pain fibers” –Periphery to spinal cord –Spinal cord to brain ___________ (e.g., different neural pathways) Damage nervous system > chronic pain