INDIVIDUAL PAIN HISTORY AND FAMILIAL PAIN TOLERANCE MODELS - RELATIONSHIPS TO POSTSURGICAL PAIN

Objectives: (a) To investigate the influence of previous pain experien ce and familial pain tolerance models on postsurgical pain; (b) to inv estigate the effect of personality traits on vicarious learning. Desig n: Before surgery, the patients completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Pe rsonality Inventory (MMPI), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and S tate-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) personality tests. They also under went a semi-structured interview to collect information on familial pa in tolerance models and their own pain history. Postthoracotomy pain w as assessed by measuring its latency (h), intensity (VAS 0-10), and du ration (days). Setting: A unique protocol to minimize the use of pain killers and encourage the adoption of coping strategies to face postsu rgical pain was in use in the Thoracic Department. Patients: A total o f 126 patients who were free from chronic pain and undergoing thoracic surgery entered the study. Outcome: Most patients recalled a history of surgical or medical pain and good pain tolerance models in their or iginal family. An almost equal number denied pain or had good pain tol erance models in their present family. Only a few patients reported po or tolerance models. Results: Patients who had previously been subject ed to medical pain experienced a greater intensity of pain. In additio n, those who had reported poor tolerance in the original family experi enced both earlier and more severe pain. Some patients' personality tr aits were related to familial pain tolerance models. Conclusions: We c onclude that knowledge of an individual's pain history and familial pa in tolerance models can be useful in predicting and managing post-surg ical pain.