The role of operant conditioning in chronic pain: an experimental investigation

The role of operant conditioning for the development and maintenance of chronic pain was examined in 30 chronic back pain patients (CBP) and 30 matched healthy controls. Half of each group was reinforced for increased. half for decreased pain reports while EEG, EOG, heart rate, skin conductance and muscle tension levels were recorded. Both groups showed similar learning rates, however, the CBP patients displayed slower extinction of both the verbal and the cortical (N150) pain response. In addition, the CBP group displayed prolonged elevated electromyogram levels to the task. These data suggest that CBP patients are more easily influenced by operant conditioning factors than healthy controls and this susceptibility may add to the maintenance of the chronic pain problem. (C) 2002 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.