Sensitivity to Pain Traumatization Scale: development, validation, and preliminary findings.

BACKGROUND: This article reports three studies describing the development and validation of the 12-item Sensitivity to Pain Traumatization Scale (SPTS-12). SPT refers to the anxiety-related cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to pain that resemble the features of a traumatic stress reaction. METHODS: In Study 1, a preliminary set of 79 items was administered to 116 participants. The data were analyzed by using combined nonparametric and parametric item response theory resulting in a 12-item scale with a one-factor structure and good preliminary psychometric properties. Studies 2 and 3 assessed the factor structure and psychometric properties of the SPTS-12 in a community sample of 823 participants (268 with chronic pain and 555 pain-free) and a clinical sample of 345 patients (126 with chronic post-surgical pain, 92 with other nonsurgical chronic pain, and 127 with no chronic pain) at least 6 months after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, respectively. RESULTS: The final SPTS-12 derived from Study 1 comprised 12 items that discriminated between individuals with different levels of SPT, with the overall scale showing good to very good reliability and validity. The results from Studies 2 and 3 revealed a one-factor structure for chronic pain and pain-free samples, excellent reliability and concurrent validity, and moderate convergent and discriminant validity. CONCLUSION: The results of the three studies provide preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the SPTS-12.

What persons with physical disabilities can teach us about obesity.

In response to Dr Marks' paper titled 'Homeostatic theory of obesity', we discuss how research on persons with physical disabilities, who exist on the margins of traditional notions of beauty and health, can inform theories of obesity. The impact of sociocultural messages related to undesirability and abnormality is explored, and parallels are discussed between obese and disabled bodies. We argue that to reduce rates of obesity, there is a need not only to reduce thin valorization but also to promote social acceptance of diverse bodies, including bodies that are traditionally understood as unattractive, unhealthy and unproductive (i.e. disabled and/or obese). There is further need to reevaluate definitions of health and wellness in order to be inclusive of diverse bodies as well as encourage equitable access to health-promoting practices and social programming.

Exploring the motives and mental health correlates of intentional food restriction prior to alcohol use in university students.

This study explored the prevalence of and motivations behind 'drunkorexia' ­ restricting food intake prior to drinking alcohol. For both male and female university students (N = 3409), intentionally changing eating behaviour prior to drinking alcohol was common practice (46%). Analyses performed on a targeted sample of women (n = 226) revealed that food restriction prior to alcohol use was associated with greater symptomology than eating more food. Those who restrict eating prior to drinking to avoid weight gain scored higher on measures of disordered eating, whereas those who restrict to get intoxicated faster scored higher on measures of alcohol abuse.