Romance Reduces Pain

New Love

The dizzy stage of early romantic love seems to reduce the sensation of physical pain.  So say the results of research at Stanford University School of Medicine.  The participants reported significantly lower levels of pain when looking at pictures of their beloved than when viewing photos of friends.

“Love engages very deep primitive reward systems that directly impact on our overall experience of pain,” says researcher Sean Mackey, whose team looked at the effects of romantic feelings on pain.

Fifteen students, aged 19-21, who were in the first nine months of a romantic relationship and described themselves as “intensely in love” were recruited for the experiment.  They were instructed to bring a photo of their sweetheart as well as one of a good-looking acquaintance of the same sex as the sweetheart.

While sitting in an MRI scanner to record their brain activity, the students held a block whose temperature could be controlled to cause high, moderate or no pain.  Their pain ratings were noted while focusing on the picture of their loved one, the acquaintance, and a word-puzzle distraction.

Both the photos of romantic partners and the distraction puzzle reduced pain by nearly identical amounts.  But the students had significantly less pain relief when looking at the photos of the attractive acquaintance.

Although the sweetheart photos and word puzzles both provided relief, they worked in different parts of the brain.  The part of the brain activated by love was the brain’s reward center which is also activated by chocolate and drugs like cocaine.

It turns out that the writers of all those romantic songs and poems were right—love truly is a powerful thing.

This article was originally published in Pathways & Partners - Issue 25.  To download this issue in PDF format, or past issues, visit our newsletter archives online at www.pathwayshealth.org/publications.

Hospice Care Guide - Questions & Answers - Part Three

Pathways will be sharing the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding hospice care beginning this week. 

Can we go to the hospital?     

Yes.  You can always go to the hospital.  Hospice asks that you call them first.  They may be able to manage your crisis at home.  If not, they can arrange transportation to the hospital.  There are times that the hospice may ask you to go to the hospital for a short stay if there is a problem that can be managed better there.

My loved one lives in a nursing home.  What can hospice do that they can’t?    

Nursing homes are experts in long-term care.  Hospice nurses are experts in symptom management and end-of-life care.  Hospice nurses are best equipped to deal quickly with health problems that arise.  Other benefits of hospice include more frequent personal care, volunteer visitors, paid medications and supplies, and bereavement follow-up for family members.

When should we think about getting hospice help?     

You can let your doctor know that you would like hospice care if it becomes appropriate.  You are entitled to at least six months of care, but some doctors hesitate to talk about hospice for fear you will think they are “giving up.”  Hospice is not giving up.  Just like you, we hope you do well.  Hospice is a way to be sure of the best care, no matter how things turn out. 

Is hospice linked to a religion?     

No.  Hospice care is only related to health insurance.  Because of the special nature of hospice care, we do make spiritual care counselors available to patients and families.  They can also help to link you to someone in your own faith community.

Who decides whether we get hospice?     

You do.  Your doctor authorizes care, but you decide if you want this care or not.  Sometimes the doctor calls hospice and asks us to contact you about hospice.  Some families call hospice and have us contact the doctor to ask for authorization.  Pathways will send someone, free of charge, to make an information visit if you need this.

Who makes our health care decisions when we are on hospice?      

You and your doctor are always in control of your care.  Hospice will make suggestions about your care, but you will always be in control.

What happens if my loved one is still alive at the end of six months?      

Hospice must periodically recertify that the patient has a prognosis of six months or less.  If at each of these dates it appears that the patient has six months or less to live, then the patient can stay on hospice.  If the course of the disease is slow, some people may be on longer than six months. 

Can we stop hospice care?

Yes.  Any patient can go off hospice at any time.  You can also come back on hospice if circumstances change.

What if the patient’s health improves? 

Sometimes with the extra care from hospice a patient’s health improves.  They may start eating more and be more active.  If they improve to the point that it looks like they will live more than six months, we will discontinue hospice care.  The patient can return to hospice in the future when needed.

What does hospice do for us after my loved one dies?  

A large part of hospice care is bereavement support for families and friends.  Pathways provides phone calls, newsletters, counseling, support groups, and remembrance events for families after a death.


Download a complete set of the questions and answers that we covered in this blog series by clicking here.

Power of Positive Thinking

A series of lab experiments conducted in Europe found that those patients who expect their analgesics to work get relief from their pain.  Those who were told their painkillers had been discontinued had more pain, even though they were actually continuing to receive the same dose. A patient’s expectations about the effectiveness of a pain drug appear to override the properties of the drug itself.

Scans Illustrate Phenomenon

Patient MRI scans conducted during the research show that, “volunteers had more activity in areas of the brain involved in memory and anxiety when they were expecting pain versus when they were expecting relief.  When the volunteers were told the drug would work, there was a boost in brain activity in areas associated with fighting pain,” says study author Dr. Ulrike Bingel, from the department of neurology at the University of Hamburg Medical Center in Germany.

Although the placebo effect is well documented, there is less research on the “nocebo” effect, in which patients have negative experiences when warned about the side effects or lack of effectiveness of a treatment, even if they are taking a placebo.

“This tells me that when we’re talking to patients and presenting therapy, the more positive we are about how the therapy is going to impact them, the better outcomes we’re going to have,” says Carla Rubingh, a pain management specialist and assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha who was not involved in the study. 

Benefits of the Mind-Body Connection

Pathways is home to an innovative Integrative Therapies Program that includes guided imagery and meditation to help patients find comfort and relief.  Relaxation techniques use the mind-body connection to achieve relaxation. Using simple suggestions, the practitioner guides the patient or family member to make the changes they wish to achieve in their physical or emotional state. This is very effective in reducing stress and anxiety, and is helpful in pain management.

For more information about Integrative Therapies at Pathways visit our website and Integrative Therapies resource page for caregivers.