M.A. Asgharimoghaddam
Abstract
The present study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of the personality dimension of neuroticism and pain-related beliefs/coping strategies on depression, physical disability, complaint behaviours and medication consumption in 145 heterogenous chronic pain patients over a 9-month period. ...
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The present study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of the personality dimension of neuroticism and pain-related beliefs/coping strategies on depression, physical disability, complaint behaviours and medication consumption in 145 heterogenous chronic pain patients over a 9-month period. The results were analysed using a series of multiple hierarchical regression analyses which incorporate an attempt to achieve a balance for Type I and Type II errors. All of these analyses were controlled for age, gender, pain duration and pain intensity. The results indicated that the baseline measure of neuroticism was predictive of depression and complaint hehaviour nine months after the initial assessment. After controlling for the effects of neuroticism, the baseline measure of pain self-efficacy beliefs were predictive of depression, physical disability and complaint behaviour nine months after the initial assessment, After controlling for the effects of neuroticism, pain self-efficacy heliefs pain control appraisals and pain stability, the results of the study also support a link between the baseline measure of catastrophising and scores of depression as repoted at the baseline of the study and three months after the initial assessment. Finally, those patients who perceived higher levels of control over the pain at the baseline of the study reported less use of pain-related medication at the 6-month follow-up period. The potential signficance of these findings for identifying patients at risk of poor adjustment to chroi1c pain is discussed.
