Table 6

Self-reported pain and stress during the experiment and significant differences between psychophysiological response patterns

Phase

Low BP (N = 48)

High BP (N = 39)

High EMG (N = 22)

High SCL (N = 11)

Significant difference

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

F

p

Pain

Baseline

3.36

(2.46)

3.73

(2.53)

1.00

(2.05)

5.17

(3.19)

7.46

<0.001

Relax 1

3.18

(2.45)

3.39

(2.32)

0.92

(1.90)

5.06

(3.06)

7.52

<0.001

Arithmetic

4.02

(2.86)

4.61

(2.56)

0.95

(1.93)

6.11

(3.06)

11.02

<0.001

Relax 2

3.64

(2.50)

4.26

(2.48)

0.95

(2.04)

5.50

(2.84)

10.12

<0.001

Conflict

3.88

(2.51)

4.69

(2.67)

0.92

(2.02)

6.06

(3.00)

12.12

<0.001

Relax 3

4.15

(2.56)

4.43

(2.31)

1.00

(2.00)

6.17

(3.10)

12.30

<0.001

Stress

Baseline

2.40

(1.18)

2.31

(0.95)

1.58

(0.96)

3.11

(1.96)

4.06

0.009

Relax 1

1.79

(0.99)

2.00

(1.13)

0.47

(0.84)

3.11

(1.96)

13.25

<0.001

Arithmetic

4.40

(2.32)

4.84

(1.84)

3.00

(1.20)

5.94

(2.21)

5.52

0.001

Relax 2

2.57

(1.55)

2.69

(1.37)

0.53

(1.07)

3.44

(1.88)

12.81

<0.001

Conflict

5.25

(1.94)

6.08

(2.09)

3.84

(1.77)

6.56

(2.24)

6.41

0.001

Relax 3

2.83

(1.53)

2.62

(1.23)

1.00

(1.11)

3.33

(2.23)

8.75

<0.001

Duration of pain

8.35

(10.61)

7.16

(6.80)

1.33

(3.24)

5.33

(2.54)

3.38

0.022

BP, blood pressure; EMG, electromyographic activity FMS, fibromyalgia syndrome; HC, healthy controls; SCL, skin conductance level; SD, standard deviation.

Thieme and Turk Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006 8:R9   doi:10.1186/ar1863