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Brain Behaviour & Society Research Laboratory

Head of laboratory

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Overview of research program

Our group is 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.

Current projects include:

  1. Evaluation of pain self-management in elderly Australians with chronic pain (a 5-year RCT). Funded by AHMAC (2005-9).
  2. Investigation of ways of limiting the aversiveness of chronic pain via a desensitization procedure (a 3-year RCT), funded by NHMRC (2007-9).
  3. Evaluation of an educational program for insurance claims staff in relation to awareness of pain and decision-making regarding treatment of pain. Funded by IAG (2006-8).
  4. Placebo responses in patients with persisting lumbar pain undergoing medial branch blocks and radiofrequency lesioning. PhD project (D. Finniss).
  5. Post traumatic stress disorder in chronic pain patients. PhD project (M.Tadros).
  6. Psychological processes in changing pain experience in a cognitive-behavioural pain management program. PhD project (K. Kirkwood).
  7. The role of stretching in chronic pain (D. Finniss).
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Major funding sources

  • Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
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Selected publications

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; 45:429-36.

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;29:8-11.

Nicholas MK. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire: Taking pain into account. European Journal of Pain. 2007;11:153–163.

Nicholas MK, Molloy AR, Brooker C. Using opioids with persisting, noncancer pain: A biopsychosocial perspective. Clinical Journal of Pain. 2006; 22:137-146.

Nicholas MK, Cardosa M, Chen PP, Flor H (ed), Kalso E (ed), Dostrovsky JO (ed). Developing Multidisciplinary Cognitive-Behavioral Pain Management Programs in Asia. Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Pain, Progress in Pain Research and Management IASP Press, Seattle, 2006; 18:773-788.

Finniss DG, Murphy PM, Brooker C, Nicholas MK, Cousins MJ. Complex regional pain syndrome in children and adolescents. European Journal of Pain 2006; 10:767-770.

Blyth FM, March L, Nicholas M, Cousins M Self-management of chronic pain: a population-based study. Pain 2005; 113:285-292.

Finniss DG, Benedetti F. Mechanisms of the placebo response and their impact on clinical trials and clinical practice. Pain 2005;114:3-6.

Jolliffe CD, Nicholas MK. Verbally reinforcing pain reports: an experimental test of the operant model of chronic pain. Pain 2005;107:167-175.

Blyth FM, March LM, Brnabic AJM, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain and frequent use of healthcare. Pain. 2004;111:51-58.

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Major collaborations

  • Attentional mechanisms in acute and chronic pain, M Nicholas (PMRI) with Louise Sharpe (Psychology, USyd), Kathryn Refshauge (Physiotherapy, USyd). ARC grant.
  • Evaluating advice and exercises in treatment of sub-acute low back pain and predictors of outcome, M. Nicholas (PMRI) with Kathryn Refshauge and Chris Maher (Physiotherapy, USyd). NHMRC grant.
  • Participation in EULAR Committee on Epidemiology: Measurement and assessment of the role of psychosocial factors in the onset and outcome of symptoms. Fiona Blyth (PMRI), Prof.Gary MacFarlane (University of Aberdeen).
  • Investigating interoceptive exposure for pain. M. Nicholas (PMRI) with Prof Steven Linton (Orebro University, Sweden).
  • Investigation of post-surgical pain for women with breast cancer. Fiona Blyth & Michael Cousins (PMRI) with Dr Fran Boyle (Mater Hospital).
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