It has been shown that a person's mood can influence pain tolerance. Films have been used as a means of inducing a desired mood. The effect on pain perception of film type and film length to induce mood was investigated. Previous research with brief humorous films had not indicated any unique advantage of humor over distraction approaches. Other recent research had indicated that after exposure to film stimulation there is a need to wait approximately 40 min before physiological changes can be obtained. Thus, the present study varied both film type and length and introduced a 30-min waiting period following the mood induction via film prior to exposure to cold-pressor pain. Two hundred subjects in nine different groups participated in the study. Three types of films were used: (1) humorous, (2) holocaust, (3) neutral. Three lengths of each type were also used: 15 min, 30 min, and 45 min. In addition, a tenth no-film group served as a control for the effects of a film. Each subject was given a baseline trial of cold-pressor pain, a trial immediately following the film and a trial 30 min later. Results indicated an advantage in increased pain tolerance for the humorous film and an increased pain tolerance for the longer film regardless of type only after the 30-min waiting period. Results were discussed from a pain theoretical perspective with emphasis placed on returning to psychological manipulations of the sensory aspects of pain and not just the cognitive/emotional/motivational dimensions.

The purpose of this study was to validate the Impact of Event Scale (IES) with a large sample of male subjects who had been exposed to the trauma of combat. Three groups of subjects were compared: (a) subjects who had participated in combat and had been identified as suffering from combat stress reaction; (b) control subjects who had participated in the same battles and were matched on relevant sociodemographic characteristics but had not shown symptoms of combat stress reaction; and (c) combat-ready subjects who were similar to the other groups but had not actively participated in battle. The basic scale structure was replicated. The IES was shown to be sensitive to differences between and within groups. Four basic patterns of intrusion and avoidance were identified. Discussion was focused on the theoretical issues associated with these patterns and on the effects of different types of trauma, and the need for clear criteria for diagnosis and treatment was indicated.

Children's coping behaviors in the sealed room (a shelter against chemical and biological weapons) during scud missile attacks in the Persian Gulf war were examined in relation to postwar stress reactions. Three weeks after the war, 5th, 7th, and 10th graders (N = 492) completed questionnaires assessing coping behaviors and emotional responses in the sealed room, as well as current stress reactions and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite an underlying feeling of tension, the dominant emotional stance in the sealed room was one of detached optimism. Common forms of coping involved information seeking, checking, and wishful thinking. Emotion-focused coping such as avoidance and distraction strategies was associated with less postwar stress reactions than persistence at direct problem-focused actions once the minimal actions available had been undertaken. Fifth graders were found to use less emotion-focused and more problem-focused coping strategies than were the 7th and 10th graders.

The past few years have seen a renewed and burgeoning interest in pain and its control. Whereas in previous years emphasis had been placed mainly on the sensory aspects of pain, recent approaches have viewed pain as a complex phenomenon composed of both sensory and motivational dimensions. Control of acute and chronic pain often involves dealing with the motivational aspects of pain perception rather than with the sensory components. Psychological variables play a key role in this effort. This article reviews the major theories of pain perception and the relevance of psychological variables, the important area of pain measurement, the correlates of pain perception, and the major behavioral attempts at manipulating pain perception.

Substantial research has demonstrated that cognitive psychological techniques including distraction can increase pain tolerance. In recent years, there also have been claims that humor and laughter possess unique characteristics for coping with pain and stress. Theoretically, explanations include the release of endorphins, the lowering of tension, as well as the distraction that results from humor. The question is whether humor is more effective than simple distraction. For this purpose humor was contrasted with a repulsive stimulus and a neutral stimulus controlled for interest level, that would also have distraction capabilities but not the unique aspects of humor. Pain tolerance was tested using cold pressor stimulation. Four groups (20 subjects in each) were tested. Three groups were shown a film: (1) a humorous film, (2) a repulsive film, (3) a neutral film. Group 4 was not shown any film. Results indicated that both the humor and repulsive groups showed a significant increase in pain tolerance as compared to the other groups. The repulsive group yielded the largest increase in pain tolerance although not different from the humor group. Except for sex differences, pain ratings did not show any group effects. Discussion focused on the type of distraction that would be meaningful for increasing pain tolerance and on the place of humor in pain control.