Personality changes associated with reduction of pain

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Abstract
Of 113 patients treated in a 2-yr period, for whom complete data were available, 29 who received surgery for pain relief were compared with 84 who did not, both groups receiving psychological treatment and rehabilitation. Using in analysis of covariance to eliminate pre-treatment differences, the surgery patients showed significantly greater reductions on the MMPI [Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory] Hysteria and Hypomania scales and on the invalidism scale of a health index, and this was associated with a significantly greater reduction of pain. These differences were obtained despite a greater increase in activity levels by the non-surgery patients at the time of testing. The neuroticism associated with chronic pain appeared to be the result of it and might be reversible when the pain is reduced or abolished.

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