Applied Relaxation (Coping) in Control of Laboratory Pain: Effects of Signalled Pain and Instructions of When to Relax

Abstract

This experiment was designed to test the idea that using a warning signal and relaxing before a pain stimulus was applied (a common coping strategy) would lead to significantly greater improvements in pain threshold and tolerance than relaxing after pain was first experienced. Three groups of 10 subjects participated in cold-pressor pain tests before and after relaxation training. The relaxation training was exactly the same for all three groups, but the experimental group was provided a warning signal 1 min. before the posttest began, and they relaxed at the signal. One control group was given the same signal, but they relaxed when they first felt pain. A second control group had no signal, and they also relaxed when they felt the pain. The results did not support the hypothesis. Both control groups improved significantly more in pain threshold and tolerance than the experimental group. There were no significant differences between the groups on subjective evaluations of the pain or on control measures of expectancy level, compliance, or ability to relax. These results point to the need for research concerning the use of warning signals and early relaxation in coping programs.