Catarina Tomé-Pires

Mechanisms of Hypnosis: Toward the Development of a Biopsychosocial Model

Abstract Evidence supports the efficacy of hypnotic treatments, but there remain many unresolved questions regarding how hypnosis produces its beneficial effects. Most theoretical models focus more or less on biological, psychological, and social factors. This scoping review summarizes the empirical findings regarding the associations between specific factors in each of these domains and response to hypnosis. The findings indicate that (a) no single factor appears primary, (b) different factors may contribute more or less to outcomes in different subsets of individuals or for different conditions, and (c) comprehensive models of hypnosis that incorporate factors from all 3 domains may ultimately prove to be more useful than more restrictive models that focus on just 1 or a very few factors.

Hypnosis for the Management of Chronic and Cancer Procedure-Related Pain in Children

Abstract The aim of this study was to review published controlled trials of hypnotic treatments for chronic and cancer procedure-related pain in children. Trials were included if participants were 18 years of age or below, were randomized and had populations with chronic pain or cancer procedure-related pain. After the studies were assessed, 12 were selected for review. Although the evidence is limited, the findings indicate that hypnosis is an effective pain-control technique when used with children suffering from cancer procedure-related pain or chronic pain. Further research into the use of hypnosis to manage chronic pain in children should be a priority so that empirically based conclusions can be drawn about the effects of hypnosis on children.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: Validity and factor structure in young people.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used measure of sleep quality in adolescents, but information regarding its psychometric strengths and weaknesses in this population is limited. In particular, questions remain regarding whether it measures one or two sleep quality domains. The aims of the present study were to (a) adapt the PSQI for use in adolescents and young adults, and (b) evaluate the psychometric properties of the adapted measure in this population. The PSQI was slightly modified to make it more appropriate for use in youth populations and was translated into Spanish for administration to the sample population available to the study investigators. It was then administered with validity criterion measures to a community-based sample of Spanish adolescents and young adults (AYA) between 14 and 24 years old (N = 216). The results indicated that the questionnaire (AYA-PSQI-S) assesses a single factor. The total score evidenced good convergent and divergent validity and moderate reliability (Cronbachs alpha = .72). The AYA-PSQI-S demonstrates adequate psychometric properties for use in clinical trials involving adolescents and young adults. Additional research to further evaluate the reliability and validity of the measure for use in clinical settings is warranted.

Validity of three rating scales for measuring pain intensity in youths with physical disabilities.

There is growing evidence confirming that youths with physical disabilities are at risk for chronic pain. Although many scales for assessing pain intensity exist, it is unclear whether they are all equally suitable for youths. The aim of this study was to address this knowledge gap by comparing the validity of the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS‐11), the Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FACES), and a 6‐point categorical Verbal Rating Scale (VRS‐6) for assessing pain intensity among youths (aged 8–20) with physical disabilities.

Sex differences in psychological response to pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objectives:To examine whether men and women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) differ with respect to pain severity and functioning, pain-related beliefs, or pain-related coping. We hypothesized no significant sex differences in measures of pain and functioning, but that we would observe differences between men and women in how they view and how they cope with FMS-related pain. Methods:A total of 747 women and 48 men with FMS who attended a multidisciplinary treatment program completed the study measures. Analyses of covariance were used to examine sex differences in the study measures, with a P-value of ⩽0.01 and at least a moderate effect size (Cohen d≥0.5) required for a difference to be deemed statistically significant. Results:Men and women did not differ on demographic measures except for their age, with the men in our sample being significantly younger than the women. Consistent with the study hypothesis, the results revealed no sex differences in the measures of pain and functioning. For pain-related beliefs, men were more likely to view pain as reflecting harm, and they were also more likely than women to use activity avoidance as a pain-coping strategy. Discussion:The study findings suggest that women and men with FMS may think about and cope with pain somewhat differently, and may therefore benefit from different types of psychosocial pain intervention.

Assessment of Pain Intensity in Clinical Trials: Individual Ratings vs Composite Scores

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reliability of findings suggesting that composite scores made up of just two ratings of recalled pain may be adequately reliable and valid for assessing outcome in pain clinical trials. DESIGN Secondary analyses of data from a study where the responsivity of the outcome measures was a critical concern; that is, a study with few subjects testing the effects of a treatment that had only modest effects. Ten adults with spinal cord injury rated four domains of pain intensity (current pain and 24-hour recalled worst, least, and average pain) on four occasions before and after 12 sessions of neurofeedback treatment. We evaluated the reliability and validity of four single ratings and 16 different composite scores. RESULTS None of the single-item scales performed adequately. However, composite scores made up of two items or more yielded consistent effect size estimates. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide additional evidence that two-item composite scores may be adequate for assessing the primary outcome of pain intensity in chronic pain clinical trials. Additional research is needed to further establish the generalizability of these findings.

What Determines Whether a Pain is Rated as Mild, Moderate, or Severe? The Importance of Pain Beliefs and Pain Interference

Summary Reliable and valid measures of pain intensity are needed to accurately evaluate the efficacy of pain treatments. Perhaps with the exception of faces pain intensity scales, which are thought to reflect both pain intensity and pain affect, the other most commonly used pain intensity scales—Numerical Rating Scales (NRSs), Visual Analog Scales, and Verbal Rating Scales (VRSs)—are all thought to reflect primarily pain intensity or the magnitude of felt pain. However, to our knowledge, this assumption has not been directly tested for VRSs. Methods We evaluated whether VRS pain severity ratings are influenced by pain beliefs, catastrophizing, or pain interference over and above any effects of pain intensity, as measured by a NRS, in 4 samples of individuals with physical disabilities and chronic pain. Results As hypothesized, and while controlling for pain intensity as measured by a NRS, higher scores on factors representing pain interference with function, pain catastrophizing, and a number of pain-related beliefs were all associated with a tendency for the study participants to rate their pain as more severe on a VRS. Discussion These findings indicate VRSs of pain severity cannot necessarily be assumed to measure only pain intensity; they may also reflect patient perceptions about pain interference and beliefs about their pain. Clinicians and researchers should take these findings into account when selecting measures and when interpreting the results of studies using VRSs as outcome measures.

Cognitive Fusion and Pain Experience in Young People

Objectives:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain in young people. Cognitive fusion is a key concept of ACT that is hypothesized to contribute to distress and suffering. In this study, we sought to: (1) test hypothesized associations between cognitive fusion and pain intensity, disability, and catastrophizing; and (2) examine the function of cognitive fusion as a possible mediator between catastrophizing and disability. Methods:A community sample of 281 young people (11 to 20 y) completed measures assessing cognitive fusion, pain intensity, disability, and pain catastrophizing. Results:Cognitive fusion was positively related to pain intensity (r=0.24, P<0.01), disability (r=0.32, P<0.001), and pain catastrophizing (r=0.47, P<0.001). Moreover, cognitive fusion was found to mediate the association between pain catastrophizing and disability (&bgr;=0.01, 95% confidence interval=0.002-0.024, 5000 bootstrap resamples). Discussion:The findings indicate that cognitive fusion is moderately to strongly associated with pain-related outcomes, which support the need for further research to (1) better understand the relationship between cognitive fusion and adjustment to chronic pain, and (2) determine whether the benefits of treatments such as ACT are mediated, at least in part, by reductions in cognitive fusion.

Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation in Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.

Objectives. This study’s aim was to identify the most important general and pain-related risk factors of suicidal ideation in a large sample of patients with chronic non-cancer pain. Methods. A total of 728 patients with chronic non-cancer pain were recruited from the waitlists of eight multidisciplinary pain clinics across Canada. Patients were assessed using self-administered questionnaires to measure demographic, pain-related (intensity, duration, interference, sleep problems), psychological (anxiety, anger, depressive symptoms including suicidal ideation), cognitive (catastrophizing, attitudes/beliefs), and health-related quality of life variables. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors that were associated with presence/absence of suicidal ideation while controlling for depressive symptoms. Results. The results showed that being a male, longer pain duration, higher anger levels, feelings of helplessness, greater pain magnification, and being more depressed were significant independent predictor factors of suicidal ideation, while better perceived mental health was related with a lesser likelihood of suicidal ideation. Moreover, being in a relationship and believing in a medical cure for pain might be protective of suicidal ideation while being anxious may be more associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusions. These results indicate that development of suicidal ideation is more closely related to pain chronicity and certain psychosocial factors than how severe or physically incapacitating the pain is. Many of these factors could potentially be modified by early identification of suicidal ideation and developing targeted cognitive interventions for suicidal at-risk patients. Research to examine the efficacy of these interventions for reducing suicidal ideation is warranted.

The Number of Ratings Needed for Valid Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials: Replication and Extension

OBJECTIVES To provide additional empirical findings regarding the number of pain ratings needed to obtain valid measures for assessing outcomes in pain clinical trials. DESIGN Secondary analyses of data from a clinical study examining the effects of psychological treatments on pain. Eleven adults with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain reported on four domains of pain intensity (current pain and 24-hour recalled worst, least, and average pain) on four occasions before and after receiving 16 sessions of psychological pain treatments. We evaluated the reliability and validity of four single ratings and 16 different composite scores. RESULTS Many of the single pain ratings were inadequately reliable while almost all of the composite scores, including the scores created from two ratings, evidenced adequate to excellent reliability. There was a noticeable increase in validity (ability to detect treatment effects) as the number of ratings used increased from one to two. However, there was little change in the validity as the number of items used to create composite scores increased from 2 to 3 or more. The findings also indicated that the scores assessing recalled worst pain were more valid than the scores assessing any of the other pain intensity domains. CONCLUSIONS Composite pain intensity scores created from two individual ratings of recalled pain appear to be adequately valid for detecting treatment effects. Moreover, the findings indicate that the selection of the pain intensity domain to use as a primary outcome variable may play a more important role than increasing reliability by obtaining more assessments; specifically, ratings of recalled worst pain may be more valid for detecting treatment effects than ratings of average pain.