Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Centre for Neuroscience and Howard Florey Institute, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2010. / Title from screen (viewed on April 1, 2010). Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Theodore R. Cummins, Grant D. Nicol, Gerry S. Oxford, Andy Hudmon, John H. Schild. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-266).

La schizophrénie touche 1% de la population et comprend des symptômes positifs (hallucinations) et négatifs (affect émoussé), mais aussi des troubles cognitifs. Ici nous présentons deux expériences qui explorent l’interaction entre cognition, douleur et émotion chez les patients et les sujets sains. La première étude montre que des images émotionnelles peuvent détourner l’attention jusqu’à renverser les effets de groupement automatique. Cet effet est présent chez les patients comme chez les témoins. La deuxième étude est centrée sur la perception de la douleur en prenant en compte les différents mécanismes sollicités, dont le traitement émotionnel. Nos résultats, et notamment une P50 élevée chez les patients après la stimulation douloureuse montrent une hypersensibilité à un niveau très précoce. Les deux études montrent que les patients sont plus sensibles aux stimuli émotionnels et douloureux que ce que l’on pensait, ce qui devrait être pris en compte lors de leur prise en charge. / Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness affecting 1% of the population, and comprises positive (hallucinations) and negative symptoms (blunted affect), but also cognitive deficits. Here we describe two distinct studies which address the question of how emotion and cognition interact, in healthy subjects and in schizophrenia. In the first study we created a paradigm that shows how emotional stimuli distract subjects and thus interfere during the organization of visual stimuli. The effect is the same in patients and healthy controls.In our second study we explored pain perception by taking into account different mechanisms, and especially emotion processing. The results show that patients are more sensitive to pain than healthy controls as they present an elevated P50 which indicates an alteration at an early stage of processing. Both studies reveal that patients are more sensitive as previously thought which has to be considered when dealing with patients in hospitals and everyday life.

M.Tech. / Purpose: A study to determine the efficacy of Traumeel® gel using phonophoresis in the treatment of a latent trapezius myofascial trigger point, with regards to pain perception, cervical spine range of motion and pressure pain tolerance.Methods: A single-blinded, controlled study design was utilised. Thirty participants who all presented with a latent trapezius myofascial trigger point were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen. Each individual was subjectively and objectively assessed from baseline values prior to receiving treatment. Group A received ultrasound utilising ultrasound gel over the trapezius myofascial trigger point, as the control group. Group B received phonophoresis with Traumeel® gel over the trapezius myofascial trigger point. All participants received two treatments per week, with a total of seven consultations, over the three week study period. The subjective data was obtained utilising a Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) whilst a hand held Algometer tested pressure pain tolerance and a Cervical Range of Motion Measuring Instrument (CROM) measured cervical spine range of motion. These were utilised to form the objective data. The Data was analysed using non-parametric tests. The two independent treatment groups were assessed for capability at treatments one, four and seven using the Mann-Whitney U-test (non-parametric version of the independent sample T-test). Changes over the three week period were observed and analyzed using the Repeated Measures test or the Friedman Test (Devey, 2010). Results: In this study ultrasound utilising ultrasound gel had a statistically significant impact on the trapezius myofascial trigger point. Statistical analysis of the Traumeel® gel suggests that there was no statistical significance with regards to any of the treatment parameters or variables measured. Subjectively ultrasound gel proved to be statistically and clinically significant in decreasing the participant’s pain perception. There was no statistical improvement but there was a clinical improvement in the Traumeel® gel group.

It is now widely accepted that the experience of pain is subject to cognitive influences that may determine the severity of subjectively perceived pain. Many of these top-down factors rely on memory-based processes, which in turn are related to prior experience, learned beliefs and behaviours about pain. As such, memory for pain heavily contributes to the physical pain experience. We posit that pain memory is bidirectional in that following each painful event a trace is stored and that these traces in turn may modify future pain perception prospectively. The following body of work explores aspects of what we have termed a memory template for pain. The results of these chapters taken together, examine these bidirectional aspects of short-term memory for pain employing a recall pain task. Specifically, we explore how, after an acute pain event, a short-term mental representation of the initial event persists. We show that during this time, sensory re-experiencing of the painful event is possible. Furthermore, we investigate aspects of recalled pain, namely intensity and vividness. Data suggests that the intensity and the vividness of this mental representation are determined by the intensity of the initial stimulus, as well as the time-to-test delay. We identify regions that characterise short-term memory for pain. Following on from studies in motor and visual imagery, we explore how pain imagery in the form of recall may affect subsequent pain perception. Our results demonstrate that the inclusion of pain-related imagery preceding physical pain events reduces affective qualities of pain. Testing healthy, naïve subjects, we replicate the effect observed in studies using attention management and imagery strategies, which normally require extensive training. Finally, in a cohort of neuropathic pain patients we show significant reductions in white matter connectivity between areas responsible for working and prospective memory. Collectively, these studies emphasise and elucidate the role of short-term memory of pain in physical pain perception. Acting both retrospectively and prospectively, cognitive reinforcement can increase or decrease the subjective feeling of pain, and therefore manipulating how pain is recalled may have therapeutic potential.

INTRODUÇÃO: Dor facial crônica abrange várias condições que podem se apresentar isoladas ou concomitantes, cujas evidências têm apontado para o impacto local e na saúde como um todo. Morbidades odontológicas e sistêmicas podem estar presentes nesses indivíduos e afetar a sensibilidade álgica. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar doentes com dor facial crônica quanto à prevalência e perfil de morbidades odontológicas e sistêmicas, em comparação com indivíduos sem dor facial. MÉTODOS: Cento e sessenta e quatro pacientes do ambulatório de Dor Neuropática Orofacial do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, com idade média de 57,7±15,75 anos, e 133 indivíduos-controles sem queixas de dor, com idade média de 49,83±22,55 anos, foram selecionados. Foram avaliadas as características clínicas e funcionais orofaciais e o histórico médico prévio, sendo utilizado um protocolo de avaliação sensitiva superficial que incluiu as seguintes modalidades: percepção mecânica (táctil e vibratória), percepção térmica (frio e calor), percepção álgica (superficial e profunda), percepção à estimulação elétrica, sensibilidade gustativa (doce, azedo, amargo e salgado) e limiar olfativo. Para a tabulação, os doentes foram divididos em dois subgrupos (dor facial neuropática e dor facial complexa). Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente considerando-se um nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Houve maior prevalência de doenças gastrointestinais, respiratórias e psiquiátricas no grupo de dor facial complexa quando comparado aos outros dois grupos estudados (dor facial neuropática e controle) (p < 0,033, p < 0,014 e p < 0,001, respectivamente). A prevalência de ausências dentárias foi maior nos indivíduos com dor neuropática (49,2%) quando comparados ao grupo de dor complexa (37,9%) e aos controles (30,1%). Estes últimos apresentaram mais cáries do que os doentes com dor, enquanto que alterações mandibulares foram mais comuns nos grupos de doentes (p < 0,050). Os doentes com dor neuropática apresentaram mais bruxismo (p=0,005), e os diversos tratamentos odontológicos, fisioterápicos e cirúrgicos se associaram a alterações nos limiares sensitivos. Quanto às morbidades sistêmicas, houve maior prevalência de doenças cardiovasculares na maioria dos grupos de doentes, sendo que tanto estas quanto os fármacos utilizados para seu tratamento também estavam relacionados principalmente a anormalidades sensitivas somestésicas e olfativas. CONCLUSÕES: A maior prevalência de morbidades em doentes com dor facial complexa parece relacionar-se com um caráter sindrômico e funcional dessas condições, sendo que a presença de morbidades se associou com a dor e com alterações sensitivas. O grupo de dor facial neuropática apresentou maior comprometimento funcional mandibular e perdas dentárias, sendo que estas se associaram a morbidades sistêmicas / INTRODUCTION: Chronic facial pain is a term that includes several conditions that might be present isolated or concomitant. The evidences have suggested an impact in general health and dental or systemic comorbidities can be found in these patients affecting their sensory pain perception. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate patients with chronic facial pain about the prevalence and profile of general and local oral conditions in comparison to subjects with no facial pain complaint. METHODS: Hundred-sixty-four patients from the Neuropathic Facial Pain Clinic of Hospital das Clínicas of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo, with mean age of 57.7±15.75 years old, and 133 control subjects with no pain complaints, with mean age of 49.83±22.55 years old, were selected. The evaluation protocol included: clinical and functional orofacial characteristics, previous medical history and sensory evaluation of the following modalities: mechanical (tactile and vibratory), thermal (cold and warm), pain (superficial and deep), electric stimulation, gustative (sweet, sour, bitter and salty) and olfactory thresholds. The patients were divided into two subgroups (neuropathic facial pain and complex facial pain). Data were statistically analyzed considering a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of gastrointestinal, respiratory and psychiatric diseases was higher in the group of patients with complex facial pain compared to the other groups (p < 0.033, p < 0.014 e p < 0.001, respectively). The frequency of dental absences was higher in patients with neuropathic pain (49,2%) when compared to complex facial pain (37,9%) and controls (30,1%). The controls had more decays that the patients, while mandibular masticatory abnormalities were more frequent among the patients (p < 0.50). Neuropathic facial patients had more bruxism (p=0.005) and the common dental, physiotherapic and surgical treatments were associated with abnormalities in sensory thresholds. Cardiovascular disease was the most common morbidity, and systemic conditions as well as the medication to treat them were associated with abnormalities in somatosensory and olfactory thresholds, mainly. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of morbidities in patients with complex facial pain seems to be associated with a syndromic and functional aspect of these conditions; the frequency of systemic morbidities and pain were associated with sensory abnormalities. Patients with neuropathic facial pain had more mandibular function complications and teeth losses, which were associated with systemic morbidities

O objetivo principal do presente estudo foi verificar a influência do ambiente sobre o limiar de percepção de dor (LPD) e limiar de tolerância à dor (LTD),através da estimulação elétrica da polpa dentária no incisivo central superior hígido. Os experimentos foram realizados em dois ambientes, o de atendimento odontológico (Odonto) e uma situação neutra (Neutro), desprovida de equipamentos odontológicos. Foram utilizados 50 pacientes, entre 30 e 40 anos de idade, em atendimento na clínica odontológica da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, distribuídos em 4 grupos Odonto-Questionário- Experimento (OQE), Neutro-Questionário-Experimento (NQE), Odonto-Experimento-Questionário (OEQ) e Neutro-Experimento-Questionário (NEQ). Foram utilizados os testes psicométricos Escala de Ansiedade Dentária e Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado para mensuração da ansiedade. Foram realizadas 5 séries de estimulação elétrica para a determinação do LPD e uma única série ascendente para a determinação do LTD. À base dos dados experimentais obtidos pode-se concluir que: - A situação que simula a de atendimento odontológico provoca maior sensibilidade dolorosa e menor tolerância à dor nos sujeitos; existindo correlação positiva entre LPD e LTD. - A razão de tolerância à dor (LTD / LPD) encontrada se situa entre 1,36 a 1,48:1. - Há maior sensibilidade dolorosa frente à 1ª série de estimulação sugerindo a participação do foco de atenção do sujeito frente à estimulação dolorosa, talvez como o principal fator na modulação da resposta dolorosa. - A Escala de Ansiedade Dentária é o instrumento psicométrico que permite a identificação de pacientes que apresentem níveis de ansiedade dentária exacerbada. / The main purpose of the present study was to verify the influence of the enviroment on the pain perception threshold (PPT) and pain tolerance threshold (PTT), through tooth pulp electrical stimulation performed at the intact superior central incisor. Experiments were performed in two enviroments: at the dental office (Dental) and at neutral room (Neutral) without any dental equipment. Fifty patients, between 30 to 40 years old, currently under dental treatment at the dental clinic of the Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, were distributed into 4 groups: Dental-Questionnaire-Experiment (DQE), Neutral-Questionnaire-Experiment (NQE), Dental-Experiment-Questionnaire (DEQ) and Neutral-Experiment-Questionnaire (NEQ). The psychometric test - Dental Anxiety Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - were used to measure the anxiety level of the patients. Five series of electrical stimulation were performed to measure PPT and one upward series to measure PTT. On the basis of the experimental data it is concluded that: - The situation that simulated a dental treatment promote more pain sensitivity and less pain tolerance; there is a positive correlation between PPT and PTT. - The tolerance pain ratio (PTT/PPT) found is located at the interval 1,36 and 1,48:1. - There is more pain sensitivity in the first stimulation series suggesting that the attention focus towards the painful stimulation has an important role in pain sensitivity, possibly as a major aspect in the modulation of pain response. - The Dental Anxiety Scale was found to be the psychometric test that allowed the identification of patients with high dental anxiety levels.

Thesis (M.Ost.)--Unitec New Zealand, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-99).

Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-32).

O objetivo principal do presente estudo foi verificar a influência do ambiente sobre o limiar de percepção de dor (LPD) e limiar de tolerância à dor (LTD),através da estimulação elétrica da polpa dentária no incisivo central superior hígido. Os experimentos foram realizados em dois ambientes, o de atendimento odontológico (Odonto) e uma situação neutra (Neutro), desprovida de equipamentos odontológicos. Foram utilizados 50 pacientes, entre 30 e 40 anos de idade, em atendimento na clínica odontológica da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, distribuídos em 4 grupos Odonto-Questionário- Experimento (OQE), Neutro-Questionário-Experimento (NQE), Odonto-Experimento-Questionário (OEQ) e Neutro-Experimento-Questionário (NEQ). Foram utilizados os testes psicométricos Escala de Ansiedade Dentária e Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado para mensuração da ansiedade. Foram realizadas 5 séries de estimulação elétrica para a determinação do LPD e uma única série ascendente para a determinação do LTD. À base dos dados experimentais obtidos pode-se concluir que: - A situação que simula a de atendimento odontológico provoca maior sensibilidade dolorosa e menor tolerância à dor nos sujeitos; existindo correlação positiva entre LPD e LTD. - A razão de tolerância à dor (LTD / LPD) encontrada se situa entre 1,36 a 1,48:1. - Há maior sensibilidade dolorosa frente à 1ª série de estimulação sugerindo a participação do foco de atenção do sujeito frente à estimulação dolorosa, talvez como o principal fator na modulação da resposta dolorosa. - A Escala de Ansiedade Dentária é o instrumento psicométrico que permite a identificação de pacientes que apresentem níveis de ansiedade dentária exacerbada. / The main purpose of the present study was to verify the influence of the enviroment on the pain perception threshold (PPT) and pain tolerance threshold (PTT), through tooth pulp electrical stimulation performed at the intact superior central incisor. Experiments were performed in two enviroments: at the dental office (Dental) and at neutral room (Neutral) without any dental equipment. Fifty patients, between 30 to 40 years old, currently under dental treatment at the dental clinic of the Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, were distributed into 4 groups: Dental-Questionnaire-Experiment (DQE), Neutral-Questionnaire-Experiment (NQE), Dental-Experiment-Questionnaire (DEQ) and Neutral-Experiment-Questionnaire (NEQ). The psychometric test - Dental Anxiety Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - were used to measure the anxiety level of the patients. Five series of electrical stimulation were performed to measure PPT and one upward series to measure PTT. On the basis of the experimental data it is concluded that: - The situation that simulated a dental treatment promote more pain sensitivity and less pain tolerance; there is a positive correlation between PPT and PTT. - The tolerance pain ratio (PTT/PPT) found is located at the interval 1,36 and 1,48:1. - There is more pain sensitivity in the first stimulation series suggesting that the attention focus towards the painful stimulation has an important role in pain sensitivity, possibly as a major aspect in the modulation of pain response. - The Dental Anxiety Scale was found to be the psychometric test that allowed the identification of patients with high dental anxiety levels.