Chronic pain portrait: pain perception through the eyes of sufferers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The literature mentions several factors influencing chronic pain onset or maintenance; however, it is known that such aspects cannot be generalized and universalized because studies state that socio-cultural differences interfere with pain perception. This study aimed at characterizing patients’ perception of their pain and associated suffering as from the projective tool Portrait of Pain. METHODS: This is an exploratory study with 150 patients with different chronic pains. They were evaluated as from sociodemographic variables related to pain and beliefs with regard to pain/suffering and proposed treatment (application of the Portrait of Pain). Information obtained from the Portrait of Pain was analyzed by the content analysis method. A single meeting was scheduled with mean duration of 60 minutes. RESULTS: The study was made up of 64% of females, mean age of 52.5 years, 46% were married and 46% had not completed high school. Mean pain duration was 6 years (58%). Drawings were grouped in 8 categories (scenes, monsters, objects, geometric shapes, irregular shapes and scribbles, whole human body, parts of the body and miscellaneous), evidencing that half of the subjects associated current suffering to other events with emotional impact and 87% expected to improve as from passive strategies. CONCLUSION: There are few reports on the use of projective tools to evaluate and manage chronic pain. Results suggest that this resource could help characterizing the meaning of pain in Chronic pain portrait: pain perception through the eyes of sufferers* Retrato de dores crônicas: percepção da dor através do olhar dos sofredores Adrianna Loduca1,2, Barbara Maria Müller2, Roberta Amaral2, Andrea Cristina Matheus da Silveira Souza2,4, Alessandra Focosi1,2, Claudio Samuelian2, Lin Tchia Yeng2,3, Marcia Batista1 *Received from Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 1. Catholic University of São Paulo, School of Human and Health Sciences, Psychology Course, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 2. School of Medicine University of São Paulo, Clinicas Hospital, Pain Group, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 3. School of Medicine University of São Paulo, Clinicas Hospital, Pain Group, Department of Physiatry, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 4. Institute of Infectology Emílio Ribas, Rehabilitation Department, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Submitted in November 25, 2013. Accepted for publication in February 19, 2014. Conflict of interests: none. Correspondence to: Adrianna Loduca Avenida Arnolfo Azevedo, 70 – Pacaembu 01236-030 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. E-mail: grupodedor@gmail.com © Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo da Dor patients’ lives and favor adhesion to proposed treatment. Further studies should come up to deepen the theme.