The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of a brief gratitude intervention on individuals' psychological and physiological responses to acute pain. Furthermore, these associations will be examined in the context of genetic variations associated with both pain and psychological processes.
After being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will be randomized to a behavioral writing intervention and a cold pressor task. Participants will be randomized to a gratitude or neutral writing condition.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
145
This behavioral intervention will require participants to write about certain aspects of their lives.
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota, United States
Change in Subjective Pain Ratings from Baseline to 10-minutes Post Cold Pressor Test
Self-reported measures of pain will be reported on a numeric scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (strongest pain imaginable every 15 seconds throughout a cold pressor test and again 1 minute and 10 minutes post cold pressor test.
Time frame: Baseline to 10 minutes post cold pressor test
Differences in Pain Tolerance to Cold Pressor Test
Pain tolerance will be measured in terms of how many seconds individuals can keep their hand submerged in near-freezing water, for a maximum of up to 90 seconds (the task will be ended at that point).
Time frame: Up to 1.5 minutes of Cold Pressor Test
Differences in Pain Onset to Cold Pressor Test
Pain onset will be measured in seconds between participants submerging their hands into near-freezing water and the self-reported beginning of pain.
Time frame: Up to 1.5 minutes of Cold Pressor Test
Differences in Pain-Related Cognition
The Rumination and Reappraisal subscales from the Pain-Related Cognitive Processes Questionnaire will be used to assess the extent to which individuals engaged in various thought processes during the cold pressor test. Each subscale is comprised of 6-items and answered on a 0 (Not at all) to 4 (All or most of the time) scale.
Time frame: Immediately after the Cold Pressor Test
Differences in Autonomic Nervous System Responsivity
Autonomic nervous system responsivity will be assessed using levels of salivary alpha-amylase. Unstimulated whole saliva samples will be collected using the passive drool technique at the following time points: 1) immediately following completion of baseline surveys, 2) immediately following the experimental writing task, 3) 1-minute post-cold pressor test, and 4) 10-minutes post-cold pressor test.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Baseline to 10 minutes post cold pressor test