Mental Pain Expression in Psychopathology and its Assessment as a Therapeutic Outcome Measurement

Abstract

Introduction

Every theory that explains psychopathology refers to different aspects of mental pain whether it regards annihilation anxiety, fragmentation of the self or feelings of intolerable anguish. The concept of mental pain has proved to be an important symptom in mood disorders in general and suicide in particular (Orbach et al., 2004; Levi et al., 2010; Levinger et al., 2015). Combining the understanding that mental pain is as a part of all forms of psychopathology with the growing interest in assessing therapeutic processes via outcome measures has led to the assumption that the tolerance and severity of mental pain could become powerful outcome measurement. The aim of this study is to assess the Mental Pain Scale (OMMP) and Tolerance to Mental Pain Scale (TMPS) as outcome measurement and to learn about their capabilities to distinguish between different psychopathologies.

Objective

The first objective would be to examine patterns of mental pain subscales in different psychopathologies. The second objective is to assess the OMMP and TMPS as outcome measurements.

Method

Two hundred and thirty outpatients were administered a clinical questionnaire battery composed of eight questionnaires. The patients were to fill these questionnaires every 3 months for one year or until the end of their therapy.

Results

We will present preliminary findings regarding the expressions of mental pain in different kinds of psychopathology and results of 3 months follow-up.

Conclusion

Tolerance and severity of mental pain are a vital to the assessment of psychopathology and should be used as outcome measurement of therapeutic process.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.