The association of early life stressors with pain sensitivity and pain experience at 22 years. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Waller, Robert; Smith, Anne J.; O'Sullivan, Peter B.; Slater, Helen; Sterling, Michele; Straker, Leon M.
• Is Part Of: Pain. Volume 161:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Early life stress -- Pain sensitivity -- Longitudinal -- Pain experience -- The Raine Study; Pain -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Anesthésie -- Périodiques; Pain; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3959

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Early life stress (ELS) can significantly influence biological pathways associated with nociception, increasing vulnerability to future heightened pain sensitivity and subsequent risk of pain events. However, very little human research has investigated the association of ELS, measured across multiple domains, with future pain sensitivity. Data from Gen1 and Gen2 of the Raine Study were used to assess the association between a wide range of early life stressors, including antenatally, and pressure and cold pain sensitivity at young adulthood. Participants were classified into 2 groups according to their cold pain sensitivity. In addition, the interaction between ELS, pain sensitivity, and pain experience (based on Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire) at age 22 years was examined. Analysis was performed using both a complete case and multiple imputation approach, adjusting for contemporaneous 22-year correlates, with comparable results in each model. More problematic behaviour at age 2 years was associated with less pressure pain sensitivity at 22 years (13.7 kPa, 95% CI: 1.0-27.0, P = 0.037), with no interaction between problematic behaviour and pain experience at 22 years. For those reporting a moderate/high pain experience at 22 years, poor family functioning increased the odds ratio for high cold pain sensitivity (3.0, 95% CI: 1.6-5.6), but for those reporting no/low pain experience, it did not (OR:1.2, 95% CI: 0.8-1.8). This study provides the most comprehensive investigation of the relationship between ELS and pressure and cold pain sensitivity in young adults supporting early life as a critical period of development influencing future nociceptive processing. Abstract : Early life is a critical period of development, with this investigation reporting an association between early life stress and future pain sensitivity.