Interactions between self-reported pain intensity and affects in daily life: a pilot study comparing individuals with chronic pain with primary and secondary pain disorders

Abstract Background and objectives: Chronic pain is frequently associated with depression and anxiety disorders. A relationship between affects and pain intensity in everyday life has been previously documented using Ecological momentary assessment technique (EMA) with a particular focus on the exacerbating effect of stress and depressive symptomatology on pain intensity in daily life of specific samples of chronic pain patients. With the introduction of the new category of chronic primary pain in the ICD-11, which is strongly characterized by emotional distress, it is interesting to compare primary and secondary chronic pain patients with regard to the relationships between pain intensity and affects in everyday life. Methods: Here, 16 individuals with chronic pain (primary pain, N=10; secondary pain, N=6) completed a pain diary during 2 consecutive weeks, 3 times a day, within fixed time periods (morning, midday, evening). Self-report questionnaires were used to measure depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Momentary affects were grouped as positive and negative affects. Data analyses were performed using mixed model and Pearson’s correlation analyses. Results: Independently of group, individuals reporting more positive affect reported significantly lower pain intensity. Individuals in the primary pain group tended to report higher pain intensity compared to the secondary pain group. Exploratory analyses indicated significant correlations of pain intensity and depressive symptoms, and of pain intensity and affects only in the group with primary pain. Conclusions: Despite their preliminary nature due to the small sample size, our findings indicate a general beneficial effect of positive momentary affects on pain intensity in daily life. They also provide first evidence for differences in the perception of pain intensity between primary and secondary chronic pain patients with regard to the relationship between pain intensity and affects.