Does Suppressing Anger Affect Pain Sensitivity?

An article in the September 2008 issue of Health Psychology provides evidence linking anger inhibition or suppression and chronic pain severity. Based on ironic process theory, researchers have proposed that attempting to suppress suppress angry thoughts during when experiencing painful stimuli would increase subsequent pain intensity among chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients, due to paradoxically enhanced anger. Although previous research has indicated a link, these studies have focused on correlational data. Using an experimental model, a sample of 58 CLBP patients (N = 58) were assigned to suppression and nonsuppression conditions while performing a computer maze task with a harassing confederate. A structured pain behavior task (SPBT) followed. The subects were tested in terms of self-reported anger, estimated pain severity and observed on the experimental trials. The results showed that patients told to suppress during provocation: (a) reported greater anger following the maze task, reported greater pain intensity during the SPBT, and exhibited more pain behaviors than patients not suppressing; (b) postmaze anger levels significantly affected group differences on pain behaviors. The researchers concluded that attempts by CLBP patients to suppress anger may aggravate pain related to their clinical condition through ironically increased feelings of anger.

Click here for the abstract.