EXPERIMENTAL PAIN SENSITIVITY AND REPORTS OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IN ADULTS WITH SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

Studies have found that reports of negative thoughts are significant p redictors of pain report, health care use, and psychosocial adjustment in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD); however, the mechanisms of the relationship are not clear. In this study, 58 adults with SCD comp leted an experimental pain induction task (finger pressure). Sensory d ecision analyses determined sensory discrimination (the ability to dis criminate lower and higher intensities) and response bias (the tendenc y to readily report pain during noxious stimulation). Hierarchical reg ression analyses controlling for subject gender and acute disease stat us indicated that individuals who reported more negative thoughts had a greater tendency to report pain during noxious stimulation even to s timuli of relatively low intensity. Reports of negative thoughts were unrelated to sensory discrimination, suggesting that motivation and at titudinal factors, rather than sensory factors, where involved. Clinic al implications for health care providers who treat patients with seve re SCD pain are discussed.