Bias in assessment of nonverbal pain in compensation patients: does it exist?

This study examined whether providing information to rehabilitation professionals, on the compensation status of patients, would influence their rating of nonverbal expressions of pain. In an experimental design two groups of physiotherapists and occupational therapists were asked to view videotapes of 10 patients with shoulder pain undergoing a total of 88 pain induction tests. They were asked to rate the amount of pain the patients were …