A HYPOTHESIS DEFINING AN OBJECTIVE END-POINT FOR THE RELIEF OF CHRONIC PAIN

A three-part hypothesis for an objective end point for pain is present ed: 1) chronic pain results in a characteristic, but reproducible, pat tern for the distribution of T lymphocytes in the various phases of th eir cell cycle; 2) Significant reduction or complete loss of chronic p ain will cause a reproducible change in the distribution of T lymphocy tes in their cell cycle; 3) The change in T lymphocytes cell cycle dis tribution will be a function of the degree of recovery from the pain e xperience. A preliminary test of the hypothesis is presented. The cell cycle distribution of T cell lymphocytes was determined in a group of 10 subjects (experiencing chronic pain) before and after participatin g in a 10-day educotherapy program given by a master teacher. Associat ed with a significant reduction of pain was a highly significant shift of the T cell lymphocytes into the S phase of the cell cycle. This ob servation is consistent with parts one and two of the hypothesis.