154. Can we predict visceral pain sensitivity? An experimental study in healthy women

Abstract

Patients and healthy subjects show large inter-individual differences in visceral pain sensitivity, which may have pathophysiological relevance. However, the factors contributing to differences in pain sensitivity remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to investigate psychological and biological predictors of visceral pain sensitivity in healthy subjects. Methods : In N = 59 healthy young females, psychological (i.e., state and trait anxiety, depression) and biological (i.e., gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in daily life, serum cortisol, and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6) were collected, followed by assessment of rectal distension pain sensitivity. To do so, rectal distension sensory and pain thresholds, and pain ratings for discrete rectal distension stimuli at pain threshold level were assessed. Results : Regression analyses revealed that lower pain thresholds were predicted by higher state anxiety and more GI symptoms in daily life (both p < .05). Increased pain ratings were predicted by lower cortisol levels ( p < .05). Additional correlation analyses showed that lower sensory thresholds were associated with GI symptoms ( p < .05). Conclusions : We observed that psychological (state anxiety) and biological (cortisol levels, subclinical GI symptoms) variables predict different aspects of visceral pain sensitivity, which is in line with results from studies in somatic pain. Our findings may help to refine our understanding of predictors and/ or risk factors for visceral pain hypersensitivity, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of visceral pain syndromes such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.