Chronic Pain and Heart Rate Variability in a Cross-Sectional Occupational Sample

Abstract

Our results suggest that the DIP indexed by vagal activity operationalized as RMSSD is disturbed in persons with chronic pain. Furthermore, the correlations between RMSSD and pain are different between those without and those with chronic pain. The findings are discussed, emphasizing changes in brain activity and the comorbid dysregulation of emotion in patients with chronic pain, to provide implications for the treatment of chronic pain.