research

Experimental Psychopathology

Head:
Dr. Mar Russ-Calafel, Dr. Kathrin Schopf

CHRONIC PAIN
Defence response mobilization via interoceptive sensations in adolescents with chronic pain

Principal Investigator and Team:
Prof. Dr. Tanja Hechler
Luca Schaan, M.Sc.
Prof. Dr. Silvia Schneider
Dr. Dirk Adolph
Piotr Gruszka, Mag.

Principal Investigator and Team

Prof. Dr. Tanja Hechler
Luca Schaan, M.Sc.
Prof. Dr. Silvia Schneider

Dr. Dirk Adolph
Piotr Gruszka, Mag.

 

Collaborator

Dr. Christiane Panné-Farré
Dr. Christoph Benke


Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SCHN 415/5-1) September 2015 – September 2018

 

Duration

September 2015 – September 2018


Description

Chronic pain disorders in adolescents are highly disabling and a significant health problem. Increasing research evidence underlines the importance of interoceptive processes, especially in the aetiology of headache and abdominal pain. We study whether the anticipation, perception or imagery of innocuous interoceptive sensations can elicit defence response mobilization in adolescents (11 to 18 years) with chronic headache (n=40), abdominal pain (n=40) and healthy controls (n=40). Based on the proximity hypothesis, it is hypothesized that stimuli from the same body region (proximal) are more likely to evoke defence response mobilization than stimuli from distal body regions. Responses are measured using a multimodal assessment approach consisting of self-report and peripheral physiological reactivity, including skin conductance level, heart rate and startle potentiation.