Pain-related automatic mental images and its impact on pain experience

Recently, the issue of pain-related mental images in chronic pain disorder has received much attention. The conducted studies are few in terms of number, but have considerable variety in terms of methodology, sample number, pain type, and assumptions about the impacts of mental image; and different reports have been obtained. The present study aims to examine these studies precisely, in order to integrate the existing reports about prevalence and quality of pain-related automatic mental images and its relation to pain and mood. A review study was conducted by searching in 4 electronic databases including EBSCOhost Web-PsycARTICLES, Scopus, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect. A total of 9 studies which met the entry criteria were identified. The results of these studies were examined on the basis of some main hypotheses and the relationship between mental images and pain dimensions. Prevalence of pain-related mental images has been reported from 24% to 100%. Calling pain-related mental images leads to stimulation of higher levels of pain and changing of direction toward negative mood. It is also related to cognitive bias. Reconstruction of mental image affects immediate reduction of pain and distress, but its clinical effectiveness which is beyond its immediate effect, has not yet been investigated. The conducted studies have provided us extensive information about pain mental image and its impact on pain experience, and introduce a new path for relieving the pain and distress associated with chronic pain.