Interrelation between physical disease and chronic pain--importance of understanding myofascial pain syndrome
Kitami, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 59(9): 1768-1772
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 11554050 Document Number: 526450
Myofascial pain syndrome(MPS) is characterized by its unique pathology on developing the intramuscular trigger points. The author performed the psychological tests(Cornell Medical Index, Tokyo University Egogram, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) on 46 MPS patients to clarify the psychological background. Results revealed that the MPS patients had remarkable hypochondriacal tendency with irrational way of thinking. The author concluded that it is necessary to be hypochondriacal and irrational for the formation of apparent MPS with outstanding TPs. This fact suggests that TPs in MPS are the result of deteriorated central pain control mechanism that should actually suppress the mechanical constriction of damaged muscles.