Interpretation biases towards pain-related words, images and somatosensory sensations have been consistently demonstrated in people living with chronic pain. These biases may influence how pain is perceived, interpreted and communicated, and contribute to its persistence and impact. Theoretically, modifying them could offer therapeutic benefit, yet evidence that experimental modification translates into meaningful clinical improvement remains limited. In this talk, I will review experimental evidence for these biases, discuss current and emerging approaches to modifying them, and explore the gap between laboratory findings and clinical practice. Bridging this gap may be critical for translating experimental insights into effective interventions for chronic pain.

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Christina Liossi is Professor of Paediatric Psychology at the University of Southampton and an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Her research focuses on cognitive and emotional processes in pain and the development and evaluation of psychological interventions, including cognitive bias modification.