Decreased Pain Sensitivity Among People with Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Experimental Pain Induction Studies
Publication Date
2015
Journal Title
Pain
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients report reduced pain sensitivity in clinical studies, but experimental studies are required to establish pain sensitivity as a potential endophenotype. We conducted a systematic review of electronic databases from database inception until 15/04/2015, including experimental studies investigating pain among schizophrenia-spectrum disorder patients versus healthy controls. A random effect meta-analysis yielding Hedges' g +/-95% confidence intervals (CIs) as the effect size measure (ES) was conducted. Primary outcome was a pooled composite of pain threshold and pain tolerance; secondary outcomes included these parameters individually, plus sensory threshold, physiological pain response, and pain intensity/unpleasantness. Across 17 studies, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder patients (n=387, age=30.7+/-6.9 years, female=31.9%, illness duration=7.0+/-5.7 years) were compared with controls (n=483, age=29.5+/-7.4 years, female=31.0%). Patients had elevated pain threshold/pain tolerance versus controls (ES=0.583, 95%CI=0.212-0.954, p=0.002; studies=15). Results were similar in antipsychotic-free individuals (ES=0.599, 95%CI=0.291-0.907, p
Volume Number
156
Issue Number
11
Pages
2121-31
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2015/07/25
Status
Faculty
Facility
School of Medicine
Primary Department
Psychiatry
Additional Departments
Molecular Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000304