Background & Aims

Patients with functional somatic disorders present a wide range of bodily symptoms that are not better explained by other somatic or mental conditions. However, the underlying etiology remains unknown. While central sensitization has been proposed as a potential mechanism, this hypothesis lacked support in a comprehensive, population-based cohort study examining functional somatic disorders by self-reported symptom questionnaires. To further investigate this in patients diagnosed with functional somatic disorders, this pilot study will examine whether patients with Multiorgan Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) differ from healthy participants in pain thresholds and tolerance.

Methods

After a diagnostic interview, patients and healthy participants (females, 18-50 years) undergo experimental pain testing. Pain thresholds are assessed using a pressure algometer on the tibialis anterior muscle and upper trapezius muscle (non-dominant side), respectively. Pain tolerance is examined using the pressure algometer on the index finger mid phalanx (non-dominant hand) and with a cold pressor test (non-dominant hand, 1°C water, for a maximum of 3 minutes). Pain intensity ratings in relation to the cold pressor test are obtained on a visual analog scale (0 = no pain, 100 = worst imaginable pain).

Results

Data collection is ongoing and is expected to conclude in June 2024. Currently, 8 patients with BDS, 6 patients with MCS, and 6 healthy participants have been enrolled. Results will be presented at the World Congress on Pain in Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 2024.

Conclusions

If patients with functional somatic disorders have lower pain thresholds and tolerance compared to healthy participants, this may suggest altered pain processing, holding significant implications for our understanding, treatment, and future research in functional disorders.

References

Burton C, Fink P, Henningsen P, Löwe B, Rief W; EURONET-SOMA Group. Functional somatic disorders: discussion paper for a new common classification for research and clinical use. BMC Med. 2020 Mar;18(1):34.

Bourke JH, Langford RM, White PD. The common link between functional somatic syndromes may be central sensitisation. J Psychosom Res. 2015 Mar;78(3):228-36.

Dantoft TM, Ebstrup JF, Linneberg A, Skovbjerg S, Madsen AL, Mehlsen J, Brinth L, Eplov LF, Carstensen TW, Schroder A, Fink PK, Mortensen EL, Hansen T, Pedersen O, Jørgensen T. Cohort description: The Danish study of Functional Disorders. Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Feb;9:127-139.

Petersen MW, Skovbjerg S, Jensen JS, Wisbech Carstensen TB, Dantoft TM, Fink P, Benros ME, Mortensen EL, Jørgensen T, Gormsen LK. Conditioned pain modulation and pain sensitivity in functional somatic disorders: The DanFunD study. Eur J Pain. 2022 Jan;26(1):154-166.

Presenting Author

Sigrid Juhl Lunde

Poster Authors

Sigrid Juhl Lunde, MSc, PhD

PhD MSc

Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark

Lead Author

Shirin Haghshenas Bilehsavar

MD

Research Clinic for Functional Disorders, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Lead Author

Lene Vase and PhD

Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, DK

Lead Author

Torben Sigsgaard

MD PhD

Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University

Lead Author

Per Fink

MD PhD DMSc

Research Clinic for Functional Disorders, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Lead Author

Arne Møller

MD

Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET-Centre, Aarhus University Hospital

Lead Author

Lise Kirstine Gormsen

MD PhD

Research Clinic for Functional Disorders, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Lead Author

Topics

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