Objective: In recent years it has been suggested that the memory of past pain experiences has an important impact on subsequent pain experiences and is associated with the risk of developing chronic pain. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the factors that contribute to the recall of an episode of induced pain in healthy individuals. Method: The participants underwent 3 evaluation moments, 1) a laboratory session where the questionnaires (STAI, PCS and LOT-R) that measured their psychological characteristics and the CPT were applied. 2) About 18 days later, they were asked to recall the maximum intensity felt during the first CPT. 3) laboratory session where they were subjected to neuropsychological memory tests (Digit Memory and CVLT), along with a final application of the CPT. Results: 64 participants completed the study. Significant differences were found between the maximum intensity of pain felt in the CPT and the recall of that pain. These differences did not correlate with the scores on the anxiety, optimism and catastrophizing questionnaires, but with the results of the neuropsychological memory tests. There was a correlation between recall and reverse-order digit memory, suggesting that better recall of CPT was associated with poorer performance in working memory, but better performance in the ability to retain long-term information. Discussion: Although the importance of previous pain experiences in pain is recognized, there are few studies on memory of induced pain in non-clinical populations. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence the ability to remember these events, highlighting the role that should be studied in greater detail in the future regarding the relationship between verbal memory skills and the recall of a painful event.
Date of Award | 17 Nov 2023 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Rita Canaipa (Supervisor) |
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- Acute pain
- Memory
- Cold pressor test
- Optimism
- Anxiety
- Catastrophization
- CVLT
- Digit memory
- Mestrado em Neuropsicologia
Memória de dor induzida em laboratório em indivíduos saudáveis: relação com o desempenho em provas neuropsicológicas de memória verbal
Réfega, M. (Student). 17 Nov 2023
Student thesis: Master's Thesis