Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41902590›Full record

ArticlePain research & management2026

Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Maladaptive Personality Traits in Chronic Pain Conditions: A Network Analysis Perspective.

Marco Cavicchioli, Filippo Maria Nimbi, Sara Bottiroli, Daniele Guglielmi, Lorys Castelli, Federica Galli

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Article in Pain research & management, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Marco CavicchioliDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Rome, Italy, uniroma1.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2726-6020
Filippo Maria NimbiDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Rome, Italy, uniroma1.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-5383
Sara BottiroliDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, unipv.eu.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0151-3962
Daniele GuglielmiDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Rome, Italy, uniroma1.it.
Lorys CastelliDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, unito.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5009-2271
Federica GalliDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Rome, Italy, uniroma1.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0491-0338

Funding

European Union (Next Generation EU) 20229NZEKP
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is a growing interest in clarifying factors involved in the emergence of different chronic pain (CP) conditions, especially referring to the role of personality factors. Accordingly, the current study aims at exploring implications of temperamental (sensory processing sensitivity) and maladaptive personality traits across different CP syndromes (i.e., chronic headache, vulvodynia, and fibromyalgia) in patients with comorbid conditions compared to healthy controls (HCs).

methodsThe sample included 1144 women (chronic headache: 222; vulvodynia: 221; fibromyalgia: 201; comorbid CP conditions: 359; HC: 141). Participants completed an online self-report survey composed of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (i.e., Aesthetic Sensitivity, Low Sensory Threshold [LST], and Ease of Arousal [EOE]) and the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 Short Form (Negative Affectivity [NA], Detachment [DE], Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism [PSY]). MANCOVA and distinct network analysis for each group were conducted.

resultsCP conditions were characterized by higher levels of LST and EOE together with NA, DE, and PSY than HCs. NA, DE, and PSY were the central nodes of the personality traits network in CP conditions. DE and PSY were the most representative traits among patients with comorbid CP syndromes.

conclusionsTemperamental and maladaptive personality traits reflecting altered affective processing systems should be considered common factors involved in different CP syndromes. Dissociative/self-related processes and dysfunctions in interpersonal functioning should be systematically evaluated as possible core markers of a clinical group composed of patients with comorbid CP conditions, as well as relevant targets for psychotherapeutic interventions.

Indexed as

Chronic PainPersonalityPersonality DisordersAdultFemaleFibromyalgiaHumansMiddle AgedPersonality InventoryVulvodyniaaltered emotion processingchronic painmaladaptive personality traitsself-other dysfunctionssensory processing sensitivity

Identifiers

PMID41902590
PMCPMC13140176

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