Comparison of psychological and physical function in neuropathic pain and nociceptive pain: Implications for cognitive behavioral pain management programs

Research has increased our understanding of the psychological and physical functioning associated with persistent pain and has facilitated the development of cognitive behavioral pain management programs to help improve people’s physical function and decrease their distress in the presence of persistent pain. The majority of this research has focused on nociceptive pain or pain of mixed etiology. There has been less focus on these aspects of neuropathic pain. It is possible that differences exist in the function and difficulties associated with nociceptive and neuropathic pain. These differences may be associated with our clinical observation that some people with neuropathic pain have difficulty applying some aspects of the theory and practice of cognitive behavioral pain management. The purpose of this study was to compare a single neuropathic pain condition (post-herpetic neuralgia) with a persistent pain of nociceptive origin (low back pain) and determine whether differences exist in: (1) physical and psychological function; (2) factors that increase difficulties; (3) responses to pain; (4) beliefs about pain and (5) problems experienced. The results suggest that the differences between the two groups were not on the major variables of pain, mood, cognition and physical function. The main differences were in factors that increase pain, people’s responses to pain, their beliefs about diagnosis and the cause of pain and the problems they reported as a result of experiencing pain. The implications of our findings for the development of cognitive behavioral pain management programs for people with neuropathic pain are discussed.