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Review
. 2017 Nov 9;19(12):80.
doi: 10.1007/s11926-017-0703-3.

Can positive affect attenuate (persistent) pain? State of the art and clinical implications

Marjolein M Hanssen  1 , Madelon L Peters  1 , Jantine J Boselie  1 , Ann Meulders  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Can positive affect attenuate (persistent) pain? State of the art and clinical implications

Marjolein M Hanssen et al. Curr Rheumatol Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Pain is an intense experience that can place a heavy burden on peoples' lives. The identification of psychosocial risk factors led to the development of effective pain treatments. However, effect sizes are modest. Accumulating evidence suggests that enhancing protective factors might also impact on (well-being despite) pain. Recent findings on positive affect (interventions) towards pain-related outcomes will be reviewed, and new avenues for treatment of persistent pain will be discussed.

Recent findings: Positive affect significantly attenuates the experience of pain in healthy and clinical populations. Positive affect interventions effectively reduce pain sensitivity and bolster well-being despite pain. Through both psychological and (neuro-)biological pathways, but also through its effect on central treatment processes such as inhibitory learning, positive affect can optimize the efficacy of existing treatments. Comprehensive understanding of the unique roles and dynamic interplay of positive and negative affect in moderating pain may optimize the treatment of (persistent) pain.

Keywords: Pain; Persistent pain; Positive affect; Positive psychology interventions; Resilience.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Ann Meulders is a postdoctoral researcher of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen), Belgium (grant ID: 12E3717N), and is also supported by a Vidi grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Netherlands (grant ID: 452-17-002). Marjolein M. Hanssen, Madelon L. Peters, Jantine J. Boselie, and Ann Meulders declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article concerns a review of the literature and as such does not contain previously unpublished studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Compliance with ethical standards thus has been declared in the respective original publications.

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