Audioanalgesia for the control on experimental pain

Perceived Control and distraction are considered to be two critical variables moderating pain perception. Using an audioanalgesia paradigm, participants were assigned to one of five conditions and administered three trials of finger-pressure pain. Previous to the experiment, participants rated six selections of music from most to least preferred. Following trial one, participants (choice condition) were permitted to choose a music selection (by ranking the original six again)to serve as a distractor during the trial two pain stimulus; half of these subjects were assigned their most preferred music and half their least preferred music. Two other groups were assigned either a most-preferred or least-preferred selection by the experimenter (no choice condition) as determined in the pretest. Control participants received no music on trial two. Following treatment instructions but before administration of the trial, participants rated a) their expected pain ratings on the next trial, and b) the extent to which they felt in control of the stressful situation. The interactive and independent effects of treatment choice and preference will be evaluated in terms of the efficacy of audioanalgesia procedures. Moreover, the implications of these cognitive variables on clinical analgesia procedures will be discussed.