Studies of the influence of psychosocial variables on the experience of pain are being revolutionized by recent methodological advances in in vivo assessment techniques (eg, ecological momentary assessment). 5 Gendreau M. Hufford M.R. Stone A.A. Measuring clinical pain in chronic widespread pain selected methodological issues. Best.Pract.Res.Clin.Rheumatol. 2003; 17: 575-592 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (109) Google Scholar , 7 Turner J.A. Mancl L. Aaron L.A. Pain-related catastrophizing a daily process study. Pain. 2004; 110: 103-111 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar However, although such methodologies have found frequent application in clinical settings (ie, using a portable electronic device such as a palmtop computer, patients with pain report on their current pain and mood at various time points throughout the day; see Litcher-Kelly et al 6 Litcher-Kelly L. Stone A.A. Broderick J.E. Schwartz J.E. Associations among pain intensity, sensory characteristics, affective qualities, and activity limitations in patients with chronic pain a momentary, within-person perspective. J Pain. 2004; 5: 433-439 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (33) Google Scholar ), laboratory-based studies of pain have rarely utilized such in vivo assessment procedures to study the effect of psychological processes on responses to noxious stimuli. Typically, questionnaires are administered prior to conducting experimental pain testing, and participants’ scores on the questionnaire are then examined in relation to subsequent laboratory-derived measures of pain responses such as pain threshold or pain tolerance. 3 Edwards R.R. Haythornthwaite J.A. Sullivan M.J. Fillingim R.B. Catastrophizing as a mediator of sex differences in pain differential effects for daily pain versus laboratory-induced pain. Pain. 2004; 111: 335-341 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (164) Google Scholar