Pain & Pain Management Health Psychology

Meaning of Pain ____________ –Tissue damage Psychological/emotional –Perception

Stages of Pain Acute Pain –Time: short –e.g., __________ Prechronic Pain Chronic Pain –Time: long –e.g., lower back

Assessment Self report Interview Observational methods

McGill Pain Quest.

Pain Rating Scales

Signs Muscle rigidity Tears Grimace Groan Agitation _________________

Pain Management Techniques Relaxation Biofeedback Hypnosis Acupuncture 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- pt 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, others

Hypnosis Process Relaxation Told it will v 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: surgery (still talking) Expectations (placebo) – v fear –^ tolerance Releases ________________? ( v pain) Better for short-term pain

Distraction Other activity (e.g., pledge of allegiance) __________________ (e.g., secret agent) Better for short-term, low-level pain

Medication Morphine –Tolerance –_________________ –Good for severe pain 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

Helpful Parent Behaviors Distract Engage Educate Coach coping behaviors