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Christopher R. France

Research Area:
Health, Intervention Design & Outcome Evaluation

Specializations:
Adult, Health

Contact Information:

Office: 245 Porter Hall

Phone: (740) 593-1079

E-mail: france@ohio.edu

Laboratories:

Cardiovascular Psychophysiology

Research Interests:

Risk for Hypertension and Pain Regulation

For almost two decades we have known that high blood pressure is associated with decreased sensitivity to pain. Recently, there has been increasing evidence that such factors as a family history of hypertension and increased cardiovascular reactivity to physical and psychological stressors are also related to decreased pain ratings. These findings suggest that an increased nociceptive threshold may serve as a behavioral marker of hypertensive risk, and that the mechanism(s) of this effect may provide insight into the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Accordingly, we are currently conducting studies to examine: 1) mechanisms of decreased pain perception in hypertensives and offspring of hypertensives, and 2) hypoalgesia as a predictor of longitudinal changes in blood pressure in individuals at high and low risk for hypertension.

Gender Differences in Pain Perception

Research suggests that there can be substantial differences in the experience of clinical and experimental pain in men and women. Consistent with these findings, preliminary studies conducted in our lab demonstrate significant sex differences in both pain and pain coping in healthy young adults. To assess potential physiological and psychological mechanisms of this effect, we are currently examining individual differences in pain perception in men and women with osteoarthritis.

Cardiovascular Responses to Blood Donation

A small proportion of volunteer blood donors experience vasovagal reactions (e.g., fainting, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness) that result from sudden, dramatic decreases in blood pressure. In addition to the potential risks and subjective discomfort associated with these reactions, vasovagal syncope is also an impediment to recruitment of novice donors and retention of experienced donors. Our current studies on the psychophysiology of blood donation syncope include efforts to: 1) enhance our understanding of psychological and physiological predictors of vasovagal reactions among novice and experienced donors, and 2) identify and assess brief coping strategies that may be useful in attenuating or preventing vasovagal reactions. The ultimate aim of this work is to support ongoing efforts to sustain an adequate blood supply by enhancing the donation experience.

Recent Publications:

See Laboratory page.

Recent Grants:

• 2006-11 Preventing adverse reactions in novice blood donors. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH R01 HL077438), $1,644,953 (PI).
• 2004-08 Altered motor coordination in recurrent low back pain. NIH - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD045512), $1,544,109 (Co-Principal Investigator with James S. Thomas).
• 2002-04 Psychophysiological mechanisms of blood donation-related fainting and a treatment to reduce fainting. Canadian Institutes for Health Research, $136,073.
• 2000-04 Hypertension, risk for hypertension, and hypoalgesia. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (R01 HL64794), $1,325,595 (Principal Investigator).
• 2000-03 Gender, coping and the arthritis pain experience. National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01-AR46305), $1,272,670 (Principal Investigator at Ohio University site, with Francis J. Keefe as primary PI).
• 2000-02 Reducing vasovagal reactions to blood donation with applied muscle tension: A controlled outcome study. Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, $110,716 (Co-PI with Blaine Ditto and Pauline Lavoie).

Courses Taught:

Undergraduate:
Psychology of Health and Illness, Abnormal Psychology

Graduate:
Applied Psychophysiology, Health Psychology, Interventions in Health Psychology, Individual Psychotherapy

Affiliations:

• Society for Psychophysiological Research
• Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)
• International Association for the Study of Pain
• American Psychosomatic Society
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• APA - Division 38 (Health Psychology)

Graduate Students:

• See Laboratory page.