The Language of Pain: Is There a Relationship Between Metaphor Use and Adjustment to Chronic Pain?

Munday, I; Kneebone, I; Rogers, K; Newton-John, T

The Language of Pain: Is There a Relationship Between Metaphor Use and Adjustment to Chronic Pain?

Munday, I

Kneebone, I

Rogers, K

Newton-John, T

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Publisher:: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Pain Med, 2021
Issue Date:: 2021-03-17

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Munday, I https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8977-9281
dc.contributor.author	Kneebone, I https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3324-7264
dc.contributor.author	Rogers, K https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5497-4298
dc.contributor.author	Newton-John, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4219-4985
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-24T05:11:48Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-24T05:11:48Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03-17
dc.identifier.citation	Pain Med, 2021
dc.identifier.issn	1526-2375
dc.identifier.issn	1526-4637
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153509
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: Metaphor, frequently used in chronic pain, can function as a communicative tool, facilitating understanding and empathy from others. Previous research has demonstrated that specific linguistic markers exist for areas such as pain catastrophizing, mood, as well as diagnostic categories. The current study sought to examine potential associations between the types of pain metaphors used and diagnostic category, disability, and mood. DESIGN: Online cross-sectional survey in Sydney, Australia. SUBJECTS: People with chronic pain (n = 247, age 19-78 years, M = 43.69). METHODS: The data collected included demographics, pain metaphors, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Associations between metaphor source domains, obtained via Systematic Metaphor Analysis, and scores on the BPI, DASS-21, as well as diagnostic group were considered using binary logistic analysis. RESULTS: Use of different pain metaphors was not associated with pain intensity, however the extent to which pain interfered with daily life did have a relationship with use of metaphorical language. Preliminary support was found for an association between the use of certain pain metaphors and self-reported diagnostic categories, notably Endometriosis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, and Neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: There may be specific linguistic metaphorical markers to indicate pain interference and for particular diagnoses. Appreciation of pain metaphors has potential to facilitate communication and enhance understanding in interactions between clinicians and people with chronic pain.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Oxford University Press (OUP)
dc.relation.ispartof	Pain Med
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1093/pm/pnaa467
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.rights	This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Imogene Munday, MClin Psych, Ian Kneebone, PsychD, Kris Rogers, PhD, Toby Newton-John, PhD, The Language of Pain: Is There a Relationship Between Metaphor Use and Adjustment to Chronic Pain?, Pain Medicine, 2021;, pnaa467, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa467
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Anesthesiology
dc.title	The Language of Pain: Is There a Relationship Between Metaphor Use and Adjustment to Chronic Pain?
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Centre for Health Technologies (CHT)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2022-03-17T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2022-01-24T05:11:47Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Metaphor, frequently used in chronic pain, can function as a communicative tool, facilitating understanding and empathy from others. Previous research has demonstrated that specific linguistic markers exist for areas such as pain catastrophizing, mood, as well as diagnostic categories. The current study sought to examine potential associations between the types of pain metaphors used and diagnostic category, disability, and mood. DESIGN: Online cross-sectional survey in Sydney, Australia. SUBJECTS: People with chronic pain (n = 247, age 19-78 years, M = 43.69). METHODS: The data collected included demographics, pain metaphors, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Associations between metaphor source domains, obtained via Systematic Metaphor Analysis, and scores on the BPI, DASS-21, as well as diagnostic group were considered using binary logistic analysis. RESULTS: Use of different pain metaphors was not associated with pain intensity, however the extent to which pain interfered with daily life did have a relationship with use of metaphorical language. Preliminary support was found for an association between the use of certain pain metaphors and self-reported diagnostic categories, notably Endometriosis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, and Neuropathic pain. CONCLUSIONS: There may be specific linguistic metaphorical markers to indicate pain interference and for particular diagnoses. Appreciation of pain metaphors has potential to facilitate communication and enhance understanding in interactions between clinicians and people with chronic pain.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153509