Emotional Reactions to Pain Predict Psychological Distress in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Abstract

Differentiating somatic from emotional influences on the experience of chronic pain has been of interest to clinicians and researchers for many years. Although prior research has not well specified these pathways at the anatomical level, some evidence, both theoretical and empirical, suggest that emotional reactions influence the experience of disease and non-disease-related pains. Other studies suggest that treatments directed at negative emotional responses reduce suffering associated with pain. The current study was conducted to explore the influence of emotional reactions to pain as a predictor of psychological distress in a sample of adult Blacks with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Using cross-sectional survey data, we evaluated whether negative emotional reactions to the experience of pain were predictive of psychological distress after controlling for the somatic dimension of pain and age in n = 67 Black patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Results showed that greater negative emotion associated with pain predicted Somatization (p < .01), Anxiety (p < .05), Phobic Anxiety (p < .05), and Psychoticism (p < .05). Increased negative emotion associated with pain was also predictive of the General Symptoms Index (p < .05) and the Positive Symptoms Total from the SCL-90-R (p < .01). We believe the current study demonstrates that negative emotional reactions to the experience of pain in adults with SCD are predictive of psychological distress above and beyond the influences of age and the direct nociceptive experience. We also believe these data to be valuable in conceptualizing the allocation of treatment resources toward a proactive approach with early identification of patients who are responding poorly for the purpose of potentially reducing later psychopathology. A deeper understanding of the ways that subpopulations cope with chronic disease-related pain may produce models that can be ultimately generalized to the consumers of the majority of healthcare resources.

Non-Cancer Pain in the Adult Population: An Integrative Review

“…Results reveals that there is a significant relationship between psychological pain and the experience of chronic pain in SCD patients [9] . It has been further discovered that psychosocial suffering is highly associated with SCD pain, as there is a greater negative emotional distress associated with it [9] . It highlights that the emotional reactions to pain have negatively affected various aspects of patients' lives and led to increased psychological pain, social isolation, mood changes, and poor self-care [9] .…”

“…The Concepts of Pain Related to Suffering, Discomfort, and Coping Frankl and Saunders (1962 have found empirical support for a strong relationship between physical pain and psychosocial suffering (emotional distress) when physical pain and symptoms are controlled and alleviated; psychological pain is often lifted [9] . These old findings have been confirmed in a current quantitative cross-sectional study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine of Edwards et., al (2014).…”

“…These old findings have been confirmed in a current quantitative cross-sectional study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine of Edwards et., al (2014). Researchers have conducted this study to determine the influence of emotional reactions to pain as predictors of psychological distress in adult blacks patients with SCD [9] . Results reveals that there is a significant relationship between psychological pain and the experience of chronic pain in SCD patients [9] .…”

“…Researchers have conducted this study to determine the influence of emotional reactions to pain as predictors of psychological distress in adult blacks patients with SCD [9] . Results reveals that there is a significant relationship between psychological pain and the experience of chronic pain in SCD patients [9] . It has been further discovered that psychosocial suffering is highly associated with SCD pain, as there is a greater negative emotional distress associated with it [9] .…”

“…It has been further discovered that psychosocial suffering is highly associated with SCD pain, as there is a greater negative emotional distress associated with it [9] . It highlights that the emotional reactions to pain have negatively affected various aspects of patients' lives and led to increased psychological pain, social isolation, mood changes, and poor self-care [9] . It has been determined that social and psychological support may help in enhancing not only psychological but also physical health-related functioning [9] .…”