Oosterman Joukje M, de Vries Kerst, Dijkerman H Chris, de Haan Edward H F, Scherder Erik J A
Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2009 Feb;21(1):157-63. doi: 10.1017/S1041610208007941. Epub 2008 Nov 20.
Pain poses a major problem in older adults, specifically for those living in homes for the elderly. Previous research indicates that the presence of pain may be associated with changes in cognitive functions. It is unclear, however, how the reported experience of pain relates to cognitive functioning in elderly people with chronic pain. The present study was intended to examine the relationship between clinical pain experience and neuropsychological status in residents of homes for the elderly.
Forty-one residents suffering from arthritis or arthrosis completed tests measuring memory, processing speed, and executive function. The sensory-discriminative and the affective-motivational aspects of clinical pain were measured.
Performance on executive function tests was positively related to self-reported pain experience. No relationship was observed between pain and memory or processing speed performance.
The present study shows that executive functioning is related to the severity of subjectively reported pain. Possible explanations for this association are discussed.
疼痛是老年人面临的一个主要问题，对于那些居住在养老院的老年人来说尤其如此。先前的研究表明，疼痛的存在可能与认知功能的变化有关。然而，尚不清楚所报告的疼痛体验与患有慢性疼痛的老年人的认知功能之间是如何关联的。本研究旨在探讨养老院居民的临床疼痛体验与神经心理状态之间的关系。
41名患有关节炎或关节病的居民完成了测量记忆、处理速度和执行功能的测试。对临床疼痛的感觉辨别和情感动机方面进行了测量。
执行功能测试的表现与自我报告的疼痛体验呈正相关。未观察到疼痛与记忆或处理速度表现之间的关系。
本研究表明，执行功能与主观报告的疼痛严重程度有关。讨论了这种关联的可能解释。
