Time perception as a measure of pain intensity and pain type

Abstract

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to investigate the relationship between time perception and pain intensity while controlling for the effects of anxiety, depression, and perceived control over pain; and (2) to investigate the differences in time perception among the sufferers of somatic, neuropathic, and combined pain. The study utilized the following measures of independent and dependent variables: a 3-minute retrospective time estimation task, a Numerically Anchored Pain Intensity Scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety Scale, and the Numerically Anchored Perceived Control Over Pain Scale. The results revealed two things: (1) greater pain intensity is associated with overestimation of time and the majority of pain patients report a perceived slowing down of time while in pain; and (2) there were no differences in time perception as a function of pain type. The results of this study present several potential diagnostic and therapeutic uses for pain patients.