ATTENTION AND SOMATIC AWARENESS IN CHRONIC PAIN

Empirical methods are used to explore the relationship between chronic pain, somatic awareness and attention. Using a primary task paradigm, 46 chronic pain patients performed an attentionally demanding task. P atients were classified according to self reported pain intensity and the extent of their reporting of the perception of bodily sensations ( somatic awareness). Results showed that, as predicted, disruption of a ttentional performance was most pronounced in those who reported high pain intensity and high somatic awareness. Further analysis revealed t hat these patients also reported high negative affect. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications for the conce pt of hypervigilance and their clinical implications for chronic pain control. (C) 1997 International Association for the Study of Pain. Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V.