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Brain, Behaviour and Society Research Group

The BBS research group is interested in studying the contribution of psychological, anatomical, physiological, and social/environmental factors to the experience of persisting pain and its management. This work extends from the clinic to community and work settings within Australia and to cross-cultural research in other countries. The group is multidisciplinary and includes clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, medical specialists, nurses and an epidemiologist. Collaboration with researchers and clinicians from other centres and countries is a key feature of the work of this group.

While the group sees research as a critical element of clinical practice and provides largely unfunded support for a number of PhD and other post-graduate students in their research on pain, we also seek external funding for research where possible. Currently, the main sources of external funding for this program is through the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and via participation in projects included under the sponsorship of the PMRI by Insurance Australia Group (IAG). Financial support has also been received from WorkCover (NSW), Coal Services Australia, Motor Accident Authority of NSW, and the Brazilian Government. Some members of the group are also involved with external researchers in projects funded by granting agencies, including NHMRC and ARC.

Currently, the main research areas include:

  1. Investigation of pain self-management in elderly Australians with chronic pain. This is a 5-year randomised controlled trial. Funded by AHMAC.
  2. Investigation of the amelioration of aversiveness of chronic pain via a desensitization procedure. This is a 3-year randomised controlled trial of pain desensitization versus relaxation training within the ADAPT pain management program. Funded by NHMRC.
  3. Investigation of the impact of an educational program on insurance claims staff in relation to awareness of pain and decision-making regarding treatment of pain in cases where persisting pain is interfering in rehabilitation. A 2+ year project funded by IAG.
  4. The development of a normative dataset for pain measures. Dataset development is funded by the NSW Motor Accident Authority (2002-4). Normative data is now being prepared for publication.
  5. Investigation of placebo responses in patients with persisting lumbar pain undergoing medial branch blocks and radiofrequency lesioning. Unfunded PhD project (Damien Finniss).
  6. Investigation of cognitive-behavioural pain management for patients with spinal cord injury pain. This project is supported by a scholarship from the Australian Pain Society for PhD student (and clinical psychologist), Kathryn Nicholson Perry.
  7. Investigation of post traumatic stress disorder in chronic pain patients. Unfunded PhD project (Margaret Tadros).
  8. Investigation of the biopsychosocial model of pain in a Brazilian chronic pain population. A PhD project funded by the Brazilian Government’s Dept of Education (Jamir Sarda).
  9. Investigation of psychological processes in a cognitive-behavioural pain management program. Unfunded PhD project (Kathryn Kirkwood).
  10. Outcome evaluation of a brief pain management program for injured coal miners with persisting pain. Funded by Coal Services Australia.
  11. Investigation of psychological factors in Iranian chronic pain patients. Unfunded project by Ali Asghari and Michael Nicholas.
  12. Evaluation of cognitive-behavioural pain management in a Malaysian pain clinic. Funded by Malaysian Dept of Health and Pfizer Malaysia. Project run by Dr Mary Cardosa (Salayang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur) and Michael Nicholas (PMRI).
  13. Investigation of the role of stretching in chronic pain – a randomised controlled trial.
  14. Collaborative projects with external researchers:

(i) Role of attentional mechanisms in acute and chronic pain, Michael Nicholas (PMRI) with Louise Sharpe (Psychology, University of Sydney) and Kathryn Refshauge (Physiotherapy, University of Sydney).

(ii) Evaluating advice and exercises in treatment of sub-acute low back pain and predictors of outcome, Michael Nicholas (PMRI) with Kathryn Refshauge and Chris Maher (Physiotherapy, University of Sydney).

(iii) Participation in EULAR Standing Committee on Epidemiology: Workshop on Musculoskeletal Pain in Occupational Settings; Measurement and assessment of the role of psychosocial factors in the onset and outcome of symptoms. Fiona Blyth (PMRI) and Gary MacFarlane (Dept of Public Health, University of Aberdeen).

Group Leader

A/Prof Michael Nicholas

Staff

  • A/Prof Michael Nicholas Team Leader
  • Dr Fiona Blyth Epidemiologist/Principal Investigator
  • Dr Ali Asghari Senior Research Officer
  • Dr Robin Murray Clinical Psychologist/co-investigator
  • Dr Sarah Overton Clinical Psychologist/co-investigator
  • Dr Allan Molloy Pain specialist/co-investigator
  • Ms Rebecca McCabe Physiotherapist/co-investigator
  • Ms Lee Beeston Nurse Coordinator/co-investigator
  • Ms Lois Tonkin Physiotherapist/co-investigator
  • Ms Maria De Sousa Physiotherapist/co-investigator
  • Mr Damien Finniss Physiotherapist/PhD student
  • Ms Kathryn Kirkwood Clinical Psychologist/PhD student
  • Ms Kathryn Nicholson Perry Clinical Psychologist/PhD student
  • Mr Jamir Sarda Clinical Psychologist/PhD student
  • Ms Margaret Tadros Clinical Psychologist/PhD student
  • Mr Brad Wood Clinical Psychologist/PhD student
  • Ms Mandy Corbett Research Assistant
  • Ms Monique Johns Research Assistant
  • Ms Sarah Mithoefer Research Assistant
  • Ms Johanna Yang Research Assistant

Publications

Collaborators

Internal

  • Prof Michael Cousins, Pain Management Research Institute
  • A/Prof Phil Siddall, Pain Management Research Institute
  • Dr Charles Brooker, Pain Management Research Institute
  • Ms Linda Critchley, Pain Management Research Institute
  • Ms Joan McClelland, Pain Management Research Institute

External

  • Prof Kathryn Refshauge, Physiotherapy, University of Sydney
  • Prof Robert Cumming, Dept of Public Health, University of Sydney
  • Prof Gary MacFarlane, Dept of Public Health, University of Aberdeen
  • A/Prof Lyn March, Dept of Rheumatology, University of Sydney
  • A/Prof Chris Maher, Physiotherapy, University of Sydney
  • A/Prof Louise Sharpe, Psychology, University of Sydney
  • Dr Toby Newton-John, Innervate Pain Management, Newcastle
  • Dr Lisa Harvey, Physiotherapy, University of Sydney
  • Prof Fabrizio Benedetti, Clinical and Applied Physiology, University of Turin

Selected publications

  1. Murray RF, Asghari A, Egorov DD, Rutkowski SB, Siddall PH, Soden RJ, Ruff R. Impact of spinal cord injury and pain on self-perceived pre and postmorbid cognitive, emotional and physical functioning. Spinal Cord, 2007 June; 45(6): 429-36.

  2. Blyth FM, Macfarlane GJ, Nicholas MK.  The contribution of psychosocial factors to the development of chronic pain: the key to better outcomes for patients? Pain 2007 May; 129(1-2): 8-11.

  3. Sardá Jr J, Nicholas MK, Pimenta CA, Asghari A. Pain related self-efficacy beliefs in a Brazilian chronic pain patient sample: A psychometric analysis. Stress and Health 2006 (in press).
  4. Blyth FM, Cumming RG, Wang JJ, Mitchell PM. Pain and falls in older people. European Journal of Pain 2007 July; 11(5): 564-71.
  5. Nicholas MK. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire: Taking pain into account. European Journal of Pain 2007; 11: 153–163.
  6. Nicholas MK, Molloy AR, Brooker C. Using opioids with persisting, noncancer pain: A biopsychosocial perspective. Clinical Journal of Pain 2006; 22(2): 137-146.
  7. Asghari A, Nicholas MK. Personality and Pain-Related Beliefs/Coping Strategies: A Prospective Study. Clinical Journal of Pain 2006; 22(1): 10-18.
  8. van Leeuwen M, Blyth FM, March LM, Nicholas MK, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain and reduced work effectiveness: the hidden cost to Australian employers. European Journal of Pain 2006 Feb; 10(2): 161-6.
  9. Molloy AR, Nicholas MK, Asghari A, Beeston LR, Dehghani M, Cousins MJ, Brooker C, Tonkin L. Does a combination of intensive cognitive-behavioural pain management and a spinal implantable device confer any advantage? A preliminary examination. Pain Practice 2006; 6: 96-103.
  10. Stewart M, Maher C, Refshauge K, Bogduk N, Nicholas M. Responsiveness of pain and disability measures for chronic whiplash. Spine 2006.
  11. Nicholas MK, Asghari, A. Investigating acceptance in adjustment to chronic pain: is acceptance broader than we thought? Pain 2006; 124: 269-279.
  12. Nicholas MK, Cardosa M, Chen PP. Developing Multidisciplinary Cognitive-Behavioral Pain Management Programs in Asia. Flor H, Kalso E, Dostrovsky JO (eds). Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Pain, Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol 18, IASP Press, Seattle, 2006, pp. 773-788.
  13. Finniss DG, Murphy PM, Brooker C, Nicholas MK, Cousins MJ. Complex regional pain syndrome in children and adolescents. Eur J Pain 2006: 10; 767-770.
  14. Asghari A, Ghaderi N, Ashoory A. Evaluating the prevalence rate of pain among residents of nursing homes and the impact of pain on their mood and quality of life. Archives of Iranian Medicine 2006; 9(4): 368-373.
  15. Taylor R, Lovibond PF, Nicholas MK, Cayley C, Wilson PH. The utility of somatic items in the assessment of depression in chronic pain patients: a comparison of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in chronic pain, clinical and community samples. Clinical Journal of Pain 2005; 21: 91-100.
  16. Blyth FM, March L, Nicholas M, Cousins M. Self-management of chronic pain: a population-based study. Pain 2005; 113: 285-292.
  17. Finniss DG, Benedetti F. mechanisms of the placebo response and their impact on clinical trials and clinical practice. Pain 2005; 114: 3-6.
  18. Finniss DG, Benedetti F. The neural matrix of pain processing and placebo analgesia: Implications for clinical practice. Headache Currents 2005; 2(6): 132-8.
  19. Franche R-L, Baril R, Shaw W, Nicholas MK, Loisel P.. Workplace-based return-to-work interventions: Optimizing the role of stakeholders in implementation and research. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 2005; 15(4): 525-542.
  20. Jolliffe CD, Nicholas MK. Verbally reinforcing pain reports: an experimental test of the operant model of chronic pain. Pain 2004; 107: 167-175.
  21. Asghari A, Nicholas MK. Pain during mammography: the role of coping strategies. Pain 2004; 108: 170-179.
  22. Blyth FM, March LM, Brnabic AJM, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain and frequent use of healthcare. Pain 2004; 111 (1,2):51-58.
  23. Dehghani M, Sharpe L, Nicholas MK. Modification of attentional biases in chronic pain patients: a preliminary study. European Journal of Pain 2004; 8: 585-594.
  24. Moseley L, Nicholas MK, Hodges PW. Pain differs from non-painful attention-damaging or stressful tasks in its effect on postural control patterns of trunk muscles. Experimental Brain Research 2004;156(1):64-71.
  25. Moseley L, Nicholas MK, Hodges PW. A randomised controlled trial of intensive neurophysiology education in chronic low back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain 2004; 20: 324-330.
  26. Nicholas MK. When to refer to a pain clinic. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology 2004; 18 (4): 613-629.
  27. Nicholas MK, Tonkin L. Application of cognitive-behavioural principles to activity-based pain management programs. In K. Refshauge and E. Gaff (eds). Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Clinical Science and Evidence Based Practice, Elsevier, Oxford, pp. 277-293, 2004.
  28. Blyth FM, March LM, Nicholas MK, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain, work performance and litigation. Pain 2003;103: 41-47.
  29. Dehghani M, Sharpe L, Nicholas MK. Selective attention to pain-related information in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients. Pain 2003;105:37-46.
  30. Blyth FM, March LM, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain-related disability and use of analgesia and health services in a Sydney community. Medical Journal of Australia 2003; 179 (2): 84-87.
  31. Nicholas MK. Reducing disability in injured workers: the importance of collaborative management. In Linton SJ (ed). New Avenues for the Prevention of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability, Pain Research and Clinical management, Vol 12. Elsevier Science BV (pp. 33-46) 2002.
  32. Asghari A, Nicholas MK. Pain self-efficacy beliefs and pain behaviour: A prospective study. Pain 2001; 94:85-100.
  33. Blyth FM, March LM, Brnabic AJM, Jorm LR, Williamson M, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain in Australia: a prevalence study. Pain 2001; 89(2,3):127-134.

 

Grants

AHMAC PDR: MK Nicholas, T. Newton-John, FM Blyth.  Chronic pain in elderly Australians: randomised controlled trial of self-Management.  Total $430,000, 2006-2010.

NHMRC:  MK Nicholas, AL Sharpe.  Controlled clinical trial of desensitization to chronic pain.  Total $335,250, 2007-2009.

 

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