Correlates of Pain Perception: Anxiety and Dissociation
Correlates of Pain Perception: Anxiety and Dissociation

Summary/Abstract: Abstract. There is a lack of research regarding the link between anxiety and dissociation, on one hand, and pain perception on the other. The existing studies show conflicting results, thus the objective of the present paper is to elucidate the aforementioned relations. All participants (N = 168) completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Y) and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES C). The next step consisted of a baseline reading of the respiratory rate (RR) and electrodermal activity (EDA), followed by 80 seconds of pain elicitation during which physiological data was continuously recorded. Both the RR and EDA proved to be reliable indicators for pain perception. No correlation was found between self-reported pain measures and anxiety or dissociation. Overall, there appears to be no connection between anxiety and pain perception, or dissociative experiences and pain perception.

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