Benjamin N Johnson1, Mark A Lumley2, Jennifer S Cheavens3, Lindsey C McKernan4. 1. The Pennsylvania State University, USA. Electronic address: bnjohnson.psych@gmail.com. 2. Wayne State University, USA. 3. Ohio State University, USA. 4. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly comorbid and jointly associated with increased symptoms of both disorders and clinical and functional impairment. Little is known, however, about specific links between these disorders. In a cross-sectional study of patients with chronic pain, we compared participants high or low on BPD symptoms on patterns of pain experience and types of child and adult traumas. METHODS: Adults (N = 181) with chronic pain completed self-reports of pain severity, dimensions of pain experiencing, body coverage of pain, and clinical indicators of central sensitization (i.e., chronic hypersensitivity of the central nervous system), as well as measures of child and adult physical abuse, sexual abuse, trauma, and neglect. Participants also completed the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD. RESULTS: Participants with clinically significant BPD symptoms (n = 32) reported more childhood sexual trauma, punishment, and neglect, as well as adult physical/sexual trauma, than those without elevated BPD symptoms. Among participants with clinically significant BPD symptoms, affective pain and central sensitization were elevated, potentially explained by heightened negative affect in BPD. CONCLUSION: BPD symptoms are associated with increased clinical severity among patients with chronic pain as well as a unique manifestation of pain experiencing (i.e., increased affective pain and central sensitization in particular). Childhood trauma of all types is associated with chronic pain and BPD co-occurrence. Researchers and clinicians should assess for BPD in people with chronic pain to enhance conceptual models of the transaction between these disorders and to improve clinical care.
OBJECTIVE:Chronic pain and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly comorbid and jointly associated with increased symptoms of both disorders and clinical and functional impairment. Little is known, however, about specific links between these disorders. In a cross-sectional study of patients with chronic pain, we compared participants high or low on BPD symptoms on patterns of pain experience and types of child and adult traumas. METHODS: Adults (N = 181) with chronic pain completed self-reports of pain severity, dimensions of pain experiencing, body coverage of pain, and clinical indicators of central sensitization (i.e., chronic hypersensitivity of the central nervous system), as well as measures of child and adult physical abuse, sexual abuse, trauma, and neglect. Participants also completed the McLean Screening Instrument for BPD. RESULTS:Participants with clinically significant BPD symptoms (n = 32) reported more childhood sexual trauma, punishment, and neglect, as well as adult physical/sexual trauma, than those without elevated BPD symptoms. Among participants with clinically significant BPD symptoms, affective pain and central sensitization were elevated, potentially explained by heightened negative affect in BPD. CONCLUSION:BPD symptoms are associated with increased clinical severity among patients with chronic pain as well as a unique manifestation of pain experiencing (i.e., increased affective pain and central sensitization in particular). Childhood trauma of all types is associated with chronic pain and BPD co-occurrence. Researchers and clinicians should assess for BPD in people with chronic pain to enhance conceptual models of the transaction between these disorders and to improve clinical care.
Authors: Lia K Rosenstein; William D Ellison; Emily Walsh; Iwona Chelminski; Kristy Dalrymple; Mark Zimmerman Journal: Personal Disord Date: 2018-08-09
Authors: Robert H Dworkin; Dennis C Turk; Dennis A Revicki; Gale Harding; Karin S Coyne; Sarah Peirce-Sandner; Dileep Bhagwat; Dennis Everton; Laurie B Burke; Penney Cowan; John T Farrar; Sharon Hertz; Mitchell B Max; Bob A Rappaport; Ronald Melzack Journal: Pain Date: 2009-04-07 Impact factor: 6.961