Sensory processing, sensitivity, and maladaptive personality traits in chronic pain conditions: a network analysis perspective

Background: /ere isagrowinginterestinclarifyingfactorsinvolvedintheemergenceofdi3erentchronicpain(CP)conditions, especially referring to the role of personality factors.Accordingly, the current study aims at exploring implications of the term- peramental (sensoryprocessingsensitivity)andmaladaptivepersonalitytraitsacrossdi3erentCPsyndromes(i.e.,chronic headache, vulvodynia,and8bromyalgia)inpatientswithcomorbidconditionscomparedtohealthycontrols(HCs). Methods: /e sampleincluded1144women(chronicheadache:222;vulvodynia:221;8bromyalgia:201;comorbidCPconditions: 359; HC:141).Participantscompletedanonlineself-reportsurveycomposedoftheHighlySensitivePersonScale(i.e.,Aesthetic Sensitivity, LowSensory/reshold[LST],andEaseofArousal[EOE])andthePersonalityInventoryfortheDSM-5ShortForm (Negative A3ectivity[NA],Detachment[DE],Antagonism,Disinhibition,andPsychoticism[PSY]).MANCOVAanddistinct network analysisforeachgroupwereconducted. Results: CP conditionswerecharacterizedbyhigherlevelsofLSTandEOEtogetherwithNA,DE,andPSYthanHCs.NA,DE, and PSYwerethecentralnodesofthepersonalitytraitsnetworkinCPconditions.DEandPSYwerethemostrepresentativetraits among patientswithcomorbidCPsyndromes. Conclusions: TemperamentalandmaladaptivepersonalitytraitsreEectingaltereda3ectiveprocessingsystemsshouldbe considered commonfactorsinvolvedindi3erentCPsyndromes.Dissociative/self-related processes and dysfunction in- personal functioning should be systemically evaluated as possible core markers of a clinical group composed of patients with comorbid CP conditions, as well as relevant targets for psychotherapeutic interventions.