Brain system segregation and pain catastrophizing in chronic pain progression
Delgado-Gallén, Selma (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Soler, M. Dolors (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Cabello-Toscano, María del Rocío (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Abellaneda‑Pérez, Kilian (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Solana-Sánchez, Javier (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
España-Irla, Goretti (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Roca-Ventura, Alba (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Bartrés-Faz, David (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Tormos, Josep M. (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Pascual Leone, Álvaro (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Cattaneo, Gabriele (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Institut Guttmann)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Pain processing involves emotional and cognitive factors that can modify pain perception. Increasing evidence suggests that pain catastrophizing (PC) is implicated, through pain-related self-thoughts, in the maladaptive plastic changes related to the maintenance of chronic pain (CP). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown an association between CP and two main networks: default mode (DMN) and dorsoattentional (DAN). Brain system segregation degree (SyS), an fMRI framework used to quantify the extent to which functional networks are segregated from each other, is associated with cognitive abilities in both healthy individuals and neurological patients. We hypothesized that individuals suffering from CP would show worst health-related status compared to healthy individuals and that, within CP individuals, longitudinal changes in pain experience (pain intensity and affective interference), could be predicted by SyS and PC subdomains (rumination, magnification, and helplessness). To assess the longitudinal progression of CP, two pain surveys were taken before and after an in-person assessment (physical evaluation and fMRI). We first compared the sociodemographic, health-related, and SyS data in the whole sample (no pain and pain groups). Secondly, we ran linear regression and a moderation model only in the pain group, to see the predictive and moderator values of PC and SyS in pain progression. From our sample of 347 individuals (mean age = 53. 84, 55. 2% women), 133 responded to having CP, and 214 denied having CP. When comparing groups, results showed significant differences in health-related questionnaires, but no differences in SyS. Within the pain group, helplessness (β = 0. 325; p = 0. 003), higher DMN (β = 0. 193; p = 0. 037), and lower DAN segregation (β = 0. 215; p = 0. 014) were strongly associated with a worsening in pain experience over time. Moreover, helplessness moderated the association between DMN segregation and pain experience progression (p = 0. 003). Our findings indicate that the efficient functioning of these networks and catastrophizing could be used as predictors of pain progression, bringing new light to the influence of the interplay between psychological aspects and brain networks. Consequently, approaches focusing on these factors could minimize the impact on daily life activities.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RTI2018-095181-B-C21
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Chronic pain ; Functional magnetic resonance imaging ; Pain catastrophizing ; Psychological distress ; Resilience ; System segregation
Published in:	Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol. 17 (march 2023) , ISSN 1662-453X

DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1148176
PMID: 37008229

16 p, 2.2 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut d'Investigació en Ciencies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles