Pain Theories
A warning sign to the body that something is wrong.
Which emotion is closely linked to chronic pain and can increase its perception?
Anxiety
Where is the "gate" located according to the theory?
In the spinal cord
What is a placebo?
An inert treatment that can produce real health effects
A woman in labour describes the pain as meaningful. What cognitive attribution is this?
Meaning attribution.
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Acute = short-term (<6 months)
Chronic = long-term (>6 months)
What does “catastrophising” mean in the context of pain?
Exaggerating the threat of pain and feeling helpless about it.
Name one emotional or cognitive condition that can *close* the gate.
Relaxation, distraction, positive mood, intense concentration
An example of a placebo...
Tablet, injection, sham surgery
A person feels less pain during a tattoo session. Gate open or closed?
Closed (due to focus, anticipation, distraction)
Which theory says pain is an automatic response to tissue damage?
Biomedical theory
What type of learning involves associating environments with pain?
Classical conditioning
Why is the Gate Control Theory considered a biopsychosocial model?
Because it includes both physical and psychological factors in pain perception
What role do patient expectations play in placebo effects?
They can significantly influence outcomes, enhancing the effect
A patient gets better after a sham surgery. What effect is at play?
Placebo
Why did early pain theories fail to explain individual differences in pain perception?
They ignored psychological influences and treated pain as purely physiological.
What personality trait (Big 5) is linked to lower pain tolerance and higher perception?
Neuroticism
One criticism of the Gate Control Theory is...?
No one has located the gate; unclear how psychological inputs interact with physiology.
What characteristics of health care professional effect placebo? (2 part answer)
Higher professional status and higher concern for patient.
A man limps after back pain and receives sympathy. What kind of learning?
Operant conditioning – positive reinforcement of pain behavior.
Who observed that soldiers with similar wounds reported less pain than civilians?
Henry Beecher (1956)
What does a high sense of self-efficacy do for pain management? (2 part answer)
It reduces perceived pain and improves coping outcomes.
Gate receives input from...? (3 part answer)
Peripheral nerve fibres, brain influences, large and small fibres
Explain the physiological theory behind placebo...
Placebos increase endorphin release – the brain’s natural painkiller.
Why might soldiers in war report less pain from injuries?
Pain perceived as a way out of danger; emotional factors override sensation (Beecher).