Do MD/SH explain the link between child trauma and adult chronic pain?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To what extent do mental defeat (MD) and somatic hypervigilance (SH) mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and chronic pain symptomology in adults with fibromyalgia?
IRAS ID
321725
Contact name
Rosie Powell Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 19 days
Research summary
People who experienced abuse or neglect in their childhood are more likely to live with widespread long-term pain as adults. They are also more likely to report more intense pain and feel more pain-related distress. It is not yet known why this is.
We know that the experience of childhood abuse or neglect can influence the way an adult thinks. Research has also shown that certain thinking patterns are more common among people living with long-term pain. This study will investigate whether two thinking patterns – ‘mental defeat’ and ‘somatic hypervigilance’ – can help to explain the relationship between child abuse or neglect and widespread long-term pain in adults. If we understand more about what can make long-term pain worse, it might enable the development of better treatments.
‘Mental defeat’ is the name of a thinking patten through which a person views themselves as less of a human being and feels they have little control over their life. The term ‘somatic hypervigilance’ describes a thinking style whereby a person pays very close attention to their bodily sensations.
This study will recruit adults who have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia from anywhere in the UK. They do not need to have ever used NHS pain services or to have experienced any childhood abuse or neglect.
Each person will be asked to fill in a set of questionnaires online, which would take up to one hour to complete. The surveys will gather information on:
- the person’s experience of long-term pain (including how intense and distressing the pain is).
- Any experiences of abuse or neglect that the person might have experienced in childhood.
- Whether the person has a tendency to thinking using either of the styles or patterns being studied here (mental defeat or somatic hypervigilance).REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
23/WA/0316
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion