Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T06:56:36.161Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Memory impairment in chronic pain patients and the related neuropsychological mechanisms: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2013

Xianhua Liu ,
Li Li ,
Fanggui Tang ,
Siwei Wu  and
Yiqiu Hu
Xianhua Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Educational Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang, Hunan, China
Li Li
Affiliation:
Psychiatry Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China Psychological Counseling Centre, Guizhou Finance and Economics University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
Fanggui Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Educational Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang, Hunan, China
Siwei Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Educational Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang, Hunan, China
Yiqiu Hu*
Affiliation:
Science Technology Normal College, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, Hunan, China
*
Yiqiu Hu, Science Technology Normal College, Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, P. R. China. Tel: +13 574 828338; Fax: +86 734 8484945; E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

This study provides a comprehensive review of the literature on memory impairment and the potential effective factors in patients with chronic pain.

Methods

A literature search of databases PubMed, EMBASE, SpringerLink, and PsycINFO until September 2012 was conducted using the keywords ‘memory’ and ‘chronic pain’. The study emphasises on publications over the past 20 years.

Results

Memory impairment in chronic pain patients is substantial, but the aspects of memory (e.g. working memory, long-term memory, and autobiographical memory) in chronic pain patients and the potentially related factors (e.g. age, level of education, pain conditions, emotion, neural network, and use of analgesics) are modest. Memory impairment is interpreted with the attention-narrowing hypothesis and the capacity-reduction hypothesis.

Conclusions

The currently available data and theory have explained memory impairment in chronic pain patients, but many controversies remain. Future research should focus on the subclinical characteristics of chronic pain, enlarging the sample size, and emphasise on the experimental intervention method and the cognitive neuroscience method.

Keywords

chronic painmemoryneuropsychological mechanism
Type
Review Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , August 2014 , pp. 195 - 201
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Breivik, H, Collett, B, Ventafridda, V, Cohen, R, Gallacher, D. Survey of chronic pain in Europe: prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatment. Eur J Pain 2006;10:287–333.Google Scholar
2. Blyth, FM, March, LM, Brnabic, AJ, Cousins, MJ. Chronic pain and frequent use of health care. Pain 2004;111:51–58.Google Scholar
3. Tsang, A, Von Korff, M, Lee, S et al. Common chronic pain conditions in developed and developing countries: gender and age differences and comorbidity with depression-anxiety disorders. J Pain 2008;9:883–891.Google Scholar
4. Merskey, H, Bogduk, N. Classification of chronic pain. Descriptions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. Prepared by the International Association for the Study of Pain, Subcommittee on Taxonomy. Pain Suppl 1986;3:S1–S226.Google Scholar
5. Jones, E. Pain. Int J Psychoanal 1957;38:255–257.Google Scholar
6. Jamison, RN, Sbrocco, T, Parris, WC. The influence of problems with concentration and memory on emotional distress and daily activities in chronic pain patients. Int J Psychiatry Med 1988;18:183–191.Google Scholar
7. Schnurr, RF, MacDonald, MR. Memory complaints in chronic pain. Clin J Pain 1995;11:103–111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Iezzi, T, Archibald, Y, Barnett, P, Klinck, A, Duckworth, M. Neurocognitive performance and emotional status in chronic pain patients. J Behav Med 1999;22:205–216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Grisart, JM, Van der Linden, M. Conscious and automatic uses of memory in chronic pain patients. Pain 2001;94:305–313.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Grisart, JM, Van der Linden, M, Masquelier, E. Controlled processes and automaticity in memory functioning in fibromyalgia patients: relation with emotional distress and hypervigilance. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2002;24:994–1009.Google Scholar
11. Jonsson, T, Christrup, LL, Højsted, J et al. Symptoms and side effects in chronic non-cancer pain: patient report vs. systematic assessment. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2011;55:69–74.Google Scholar
12. Jongsma, MLA, Postma, SAE, Souren, P et al. Neurodegenerative properties of chronic pain: cognitive decline in patients with chronic pancreatitis. PLoS One 2011;6:e23363.Google Scholar
13. Jorge, LL, Gerard, C, Revel, M. Evidences of memory dysfunction and maladaptive coping in chronic low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis patients: challenges for rehabilitation. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2009;45:469–477.Google Scholar
14. McCracken, LM, Iverson, GL. Predicting complaints of impaired cognitive functioning in patients with chronic pain. J Pain Symptom Manage 2001;21:392–396.Google Scholar
15. Muñoz, M, Esteve, R. Reports of memory functioning by patients with chronic pain. Clin J Pain 2005;21:287–291.Google Scholar
16. Williams, JMG, Barnhofer, T, Hermans, D, Raes, F, Watkins, E, Dalgleish, T. Autobiographical memory specificity and emotional disorder. Psychol Bull 2007;133:122–148.Google Scholar
17. Williams, JMG. Capture and rumination, functional avoidance, and executive control (CaRFAX): three processes that underlie overgeneral memory. Cogn Emot 2006;20:548–568.Google Scholar
18. Raes, F, Hermans, D, Williams, JMG et al. Is overgeneral autobiographical memory an isolated memory phenomenon in major depression? Memory 2006;14:584–594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Warren, Z, Haslam, C. Overgeneral memory for public and autobiographical events in depression and schizophrenia. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 2007;12:301–321.Google Scholar
20. Etherton, JL, Bianchini, KJ, Ciota, MA, Heinly, MT, Greve, KW. Pain, malingering and the WAIS-III Working Memory Index. Spine J 2006;6:61–71.Google Scholar
21. Dick, BD, Rashiq, S. Disruption of attention and working memory traces in individuals with chronic pain. Anesth Analg 2007;104:1223–1229.Google Scholar
22. Sjøgren, P, Christrup, LL, Petersen, MA, Højsted, J. Neuropsychological assessment of chronic non-malignant pain patients treated in a multidisciplinary pain centre. Eur J Pain 2005;9:453–462.Google Scholar
23. Oosterman, JM, Derksen, LC, van Wijck, AJ, Veldhuijzen, DS, Kessels, RP. Memory functions in chronic pain: examining contribution of attention and age to test performance. Clin J Pain 2011;27:70–75.Google Scholar
24. Landro, NI, Stiles, TC, Sletvold, H. Memory functioning in patients with primary fibromyalgia and major depression and healthy controls. J Psychosom Res 1997;42:297–306.Google Scholar
25. Grisart, J, Van der Lindenb, M, Bastin, C. The contribution of recollection and familiarity to recognition memory performance in chronic pain patients. Behav Res Ther 2007;45:1077–1084.Google Scholar
26. Busch, H, Montgomery, W, Melin, B, Lundberg, U. Visuospatial and verbal memory in chronic pain patients: an explorative study. Pain Pract 2006;6:179–185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. Thomas, S, Iezzi, T, Melanie, P, Duckworth, MP, Archibald, Y, Klinck, A. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and general activity level in the prediction of neurocognitive performance in chronic pain patients. Int J Rehabil Health 2000;5:31–42.Google Scholar
28. Iezzi, T, Duckworth, MP, Vuong, LN, Archibald, YM, Klinck, A. Predictors of neurocognitive performance in chronic pain patients. Int J Behav Med 2004;11:56–61.Google Scholar
29. Hart, RP, Martelli, MF, Zasler, ND. Chronic pain and neuropsychological functioning. Neuropsychol Rev 2000;10:131–149.Google Scholar
30. Liu, X, Li, L, Xiao, J, Yang, J, Jiang, X. Abnormalities of autobiographical memory of patients with depressive disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychol Psychother Theor Res Pract 2012.Google Scholar
31. Christianson, SA, Safer, MA. Emotional events and emotions in autobiographical memories. In: Rubin DC, editor. Remembering our past: studies in autobiographical memory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995, p. 218–243.Google Scholar
32. Morley, S. Vivid memory for ‘everyday’ pains. Pain 1993;55:55–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33. Wright, J, Morley, S. Autobiographical memory and chronic pain. Br J Clin Psychol 1995;34:255–265.Google Scholar
34. Oosterman, JM, de Vries, K, Dijkerman, HC, de Haan, EH, Scherder, EJ. Exploring the relationship between cognition and self-reported pain in residents of homes for the elderly. Int Psychogeriat 2009;21:157–163.Google Scholar
35. Kelly, S, Lloyd, D, Nurmikko, T, Roberts, N. Retrieving autobiographical memories of painful events activates the anterior cingulate cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. J Pain 2007;8:307–314.Google Scholar
36. Feine, JS, Lavigned, GJ, Dao, TT, Morin, C, Lund, JP. Memories of chronic pain and perceptions of relief. Pain 1998;77:137–141.Google Scholar
37. Salovey, P, Smith, AF, Turk, DC, Jobe, JB, Willis, GB. The accuracy of memory for pain: not so bad most of the time. Pain Soc J 1993;2:184–191.Google Scholar
38. Matera, D, Morell, M, La Grua, M, Sassu, B, Santagostino, G, Prioreschi, G. Memory distortion during acute and chronic pain recalling. Minarva Anestesiol 2003;69:775–783.Google ScholarPubMed
39. Bryant, RA. Memory for pain and affect in chronic pain patients. Pain 1993;54:347–351.Google Scholar
40. McNamara, P, Benson, E, McGeeney, B, Brown, A, Albert, ML. Modes of remembering in patients with chronic pain: relation to current pain. J Nerv Ment Dis 2005;193:53–57.Google Scholar
41. Prakash, S, Golwala, P. Phantom headache: pain-memory-emotion hypothesis for chronic daily headache? J Headache Pain 2011;12:281–286.Google Scholar
42. Eccleston, C. Chronic pain and distraction: an experimental investigation into the role of sustained and shifting attention in the processing of chronic persistent pain. Behav Res Ther 1995;33:391–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed