Fear of pain and cortisol reactivity predict the strength of stress-induced hypoalgesia

Inge Timmers*, Amanda L. Kaas, Conny Wem Quaedflieg, Emma E. Biggs, Tom Smeets, Jeroen R. de Jong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute stress can have an effect on pain sensitivity, yet the direction of the effect - whether it is hypoalgesic or hyperalgesic - is mixed across studies. Moreover, which part of the stress response influences pain sensitivity is still unclear. In the current experimental study, we aim to examine the effect of acute stress on heat pain thresholds and pain tolerance levels in healthy participants, while taking into account individual differences in stress responses.

METHODS: 42 healthy participants were randomly assigned to either a well validated stress paradigm: the Maastricht Acute Stress Task (MAST; combining physical and psychological stressors) or to a non-stressful version of the task. Heat pain thresholds and tolerance levels were assessed at three times: prior to the MAST, immediately after the MAST during the presumed sympatho-adrenal-medullary (SAM) response, and 15 minutes after MAST to cover the presumed hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response. Stress responses were assessed both subjectively and physiologically.

RESULTS: We observed that the acute stress induction led to increased heat pain thresholds, an effect that was present only in participants showing a cortisol response following stress induction and only in the presumed HPA axis time window. The strength of this hypoalgesic effect was further predicted by the change in cortisol and by fear of pain levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the HPA axis - and not the autonomic - stress response specifically underlies this stress-induced hypoalgesic effect, having important implications for clinical states with HPA axis dysfunctions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1291-1303
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean Journal of Pain
Volume22
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Journal Article
  • BACK-PAIN
  • RESPONSES
  • PERCEPTION
  • TOLERANCE
  • SALIVARY CORTISOL
  • TEST MAST
  • HEALTHY
  • BLOOD-PRESSURE
  • MODULATION
  • ANALGESIA

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