文章基本信息

标题：Words putting pain in motion: the generalization of pain-related fear within an artificial stimulus category
本地全文：下载
作者：Bennett, Marc P. ; Meulders, Ann ; Baeyens, Frank 等
期刊名称：Frontiers in Psychology
电子版ISSN：1664-1078
出版年度：2015
卷号：6
页码：520-531
DOI：10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00520
出版社：Frontiers Media
摘要：Patients with chronic pain are often fearful of movements that never featured in painful episodes. This study examined whether a neutral movement’s conceptual relationship with pain-relevant stimuli could precipitate pain-related fear; a process known as symbolic generalization. As a secondary objective, we also compared experiential and verbal fear learning in the generalization of pain-related fear. We conducted an experimental study with 80 healthy participants who were recruited through an online experimental management system (Mage = 23.04 years, SD = 6.80 years). First, two artificial categories were established wherein nonsense words and joystick arm movements were equivalent. Using a between-groups design, nonsense words from one category were paired with either an electrocutaneous stimulus (pain-US) or threatening information, while nonsense words from the other category were paired with no pain-US or safety information. During a final testing phase, participants were prompted to perform specific joystick arm movements that were never followed by a pain-US, although they were informed that it could occur. The results showed that movements equivalent to the pain-relevant nonsense words evoked heightened pain-related fear as measured by pain-US expectancy, fear of pain, and unpleasantness ratings. Also, experience with the pain-US evinced stronger acquisition and generalization compared to experience with threatening information. The clinical importance and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
关键词：symbolic generalization; fear of pain; chronic pain disorders; Fear; avoidance model; Stimulus equivalence; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy