Randomized trial examines affective touch effects on pain perception in chronic pain patients, highlighting trauma and depression influence.
Key Points
This research aims to understand how different forms of touch affect pain perception, particularly in chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.
Investigated effects of gentle brushing and deep pressure on heat pain perception in controls and fibromyalgia patients.
Tested within-segment and between-segment touch-pain modulation effects.
Analyzed the influence of trauma history and depression on pain modulation outcomes.
Gentle brushing significantly reduced heat pain perception only in the between-segment condition, without differences between fibromyalgia patients and controls.
Trauma history and depression were identified as strong predictors of touch-pain modulation effects.
Overall, touch-pain modulation mechanisms seem preserved in fibromyalgia despite the pain condition.