Pleasant Touch Perception in Persistent Pain.

The goal of this observational study is to learn how individuals with chronic pain experience pleasant touch and how often they are exposed to such touch in their daily lives. The study also aims to examine how these experiences relate to pain sensitivity and body awareness. The main questions it aims to answer are: How is the perception of pleasant touch associated with central sensitization and interoceptive awareness in individuals with chronic pain? Does the perception of pleasant touch differ between individuals with different dominant pain mechanisms (nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic)? Participants referred to a specialist Pain Clinic in Västra Götaland as part of their regular care will be invited to take part. Those who consent will complete online questionnaires assessing pain, experience and exposure to touch, interoceptive awareness, and central sensitization. Clinical data such as pain diagnosis and medical history will also be collected.