The Effect of Outcome Expectancies on Pain Tolerance

Chronic pain occurs in 23% of the Dutch adult population. Psychological factors like expectancies of pain play a big role in pain and methods that can make these expectancies more positive could greatly improve a patient his quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between manipulated outcome expectancies and pain. It was hypothesised that a positive outcome expectancy would result in a higher tolerance of pain. 61 healthy students were randomly divided into two groups, where one group received the positive outcome expectancy manipulation and the other group the control manipulation. This was done by presenting information via a computer screen of which the participants believed was about their psychological factors based on a pain test and a questionnaire, but was only based on the group to which the participant was allocated. Pain tolerance was measured using the Cold Pressor Test, where the participant had to hold his/her hand in the water bath for...Show moreChronic pain occurs in 23% of the Dutch adult population. Psychological factors like expectancies of pain play a big role in pain and methods that can make these expectancies more positive could greatly improve a patient his quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between manipulated outcome expectancies and pain. It was hypothesised that a positive outcome expectancy would result in a higher tolerance of pain. 61 healthy students were randomly divided into two groups, where one group received the positive outcome expectancy manipulation and the other group the control manipulation. This was done by presenting information via a computer screen of which the participants believed was about their psychological factors based on a pain test and a questionnaire, but was only based on the group to which the participant was allocated. Pain tolerance was measured using the Cold Pressor Test, where the participant had to hold his/her hand in the water bath for as long as possible and the duration was the measurement for pain tolerance. Both groups showed equal outcome expectancies, p = .193, which means the manipulation was unsuccessful and both groups had the same belief on how well they could tolerate pain. Unsurprisingly, the total amount of time spent in the CPT between the conditions was also the same, p = .988. The research question remains unanswered as the outcome expectancy manipulation was ineffective. A successful manipulation is needed which could be achieved by telling participants face-to-face by a researcher that they are expected to handle pain well, as this might be more convincing and more effective to increase outcome expectancy. Future research could focus on this aspect. This study has gained insight into the possibility that a manipulation via a computer presentation might not be effective enough to induce a positive outcome expectancy.Show less

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The Effect of Outcome Expectancies on Pain Tolerance