Izvorni znanstveni članak

Objective measurement of chronic pain by a complex concentration test

Anja Berg ; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie
Karen Oster ; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
Herbert Janig ; Department of Psychology, Alps-Adria University Klagenfurt
Rudolf Likar ; Pain Ambulance, Department of Anaesthesia Clinic, General Hospital Klagenfurt
Wolfgang Pipam ; Department of Psychology, Alps-Adria University Klagenfurt
Anja Scholz ; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden
Karl Westhoff ; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden

Sažetak

Higher intensity of chronic pain occurs together with the subjective experience of impaired concentration. With a complex test of concentration two facets of concentrated work can be measured reliably and validly: speed of concentrated work and percentage of concentration errors. Two studies were conducted to test whether the Complex-Concentration-Test is suitable for assessing the cognitive deficit caused by chronic pain. In Study I, 60 chronic pain patients in Germany, and in Study II, 86 patients in Austria, completed a standardized interview on pain, the Complex-Concentration-Test, the visual-analogue-scale for pain intensity, the Pain-Experience-Scale, the Pain-Disability-Index, as well as the General-Depression-Scale. The State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory was additionally administered in Study II. The speed of concentrated work showed low, but consistent and negative correlation, with pain intensity. The percentage of concentration errors showed low to medium positive correlation with pain intensity. These correlations were not altered when age, education, depression, anxiety and use of analgesics were held constant by using partial correlations. Complex-Concentration-Test proved to be a potentially useful instrument for measuring cognitive deficit caused by chronic pain by using the percentage of concentration errors as a parameter. Therefore, it might be helpful in the assessment of the extent of impairment of an individual.

Ključne riječi

chronic pain; concentration errors; pain intensity; speed of concentrated work

Hrčak ID:

70633

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/70633

Datum izdavanja:

18.7.2009.

Posjeta: 1.637 *