Understanding How Perfectionism Impacts Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment Outcomes: A Nonrandomized Trial

Author(s):  
Edin T Randall ◽  
Yasmin C Cole-Lewis ◽  
Carter R Petty ◽  
Kelsey N Jervis

Abstract Objective  Several factors are known to impact response to the intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) program described in this study, yet no research has explored the role of perfectionism. This secondary data analysis explored direct and indirect relations between perfectionism and functional disability (primary outcome) and pain severity (secondary outcome) after IIPT, with pain catastrophizing and fear of pain as mediators. Methods  Youth (N = 253) aged 8–21 with chronic pain and associated disability completed pre- and post-IIPT measures of self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, functional disability, and pain characteristics for routine clinical care and this nonrandomized trial. Eight mediated models were run for the two predictors, two mediators, and two outcomes. Results  Pretreatment perfectionism (SOP and SPP) led to greater reductions in pain catastrophizing over the course of IIPT, which resulted in lower pain severity (β = −.02 [CI = −0.07, −0.01] for SOP and β = −.02 [CI = −0.06, −0.003] for SPP) and less functional disability (β = −.06 [CI = −0.13, −0.01] for SOP and β = −.06 [CI = −0.14, −0.01] for SPP). Independent of pain catastrophizing, pretreatment SPP was directly associated with more posttreatment functional disability (β = .16 [CI = 0.05, 0.27]). Fear of pain was not a mediator. Conclusions  Findings suggest perfectionism has the potential to negatively impact IIPT outcomes. However, when perfectionistic youth with chronic pain learn to manage pain-related distress, they benefit. Results highlight the importance of assessing for and treating perfectionism and pain-related distress in youth with chronic pain.

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1369-1376
Author(s):  
Matthew J Bair ◽  
Samantha D Outcalt ◽  
Dennis Ang ◽  
Jingwei Wu ◽  
Zhangsheng Yu

Abstract Objective To compare pain and psychological outcomes in veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or pain alone and to determine if veterans with comorbidity respond differently to a stepped-care intervention than those with pain alone. Design Secondary analysis of data from the Evaluation of Stepped Care for Chronic Pain (ESCAPE) trial. Setting Six Veterans Health Affairs clinics. Subjects Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (N = 222) with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Methods Longitudinal analysis of veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain and PTSD or pain alone and available baseline and nine-month trial data. Participants randomized to either usual care or a stepped-care intervention were analyzed. The pain–PTSD comorbidity group screened positive for PTSD and had a PTSD Checklist–Civilian score ≥41 at baseline. Results T tests demonstrated statistically significant differences and worse outcomes on pain severity, pain cognitions, and psychological outcomes in veterans with comorbid pain and PTSD compared with those with pain alone. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) modeling change scores from baseline to nine months indicated no statistically significant differences, controlling for PTSD, on pain severity, pain centrality, or pain self-efficacy. Significant differences emerged for pain catastrophizing (t = 3.10, P < 0.01), depression (t = 3.39, P < 0.001), and anxiety (t = 3.80, P < 0.001). The interaction between PTSD and the stepped-care intervention was not significant. Conclusions Veterans with the pain–PTSD comorbidity demonstrated worse pain and psychological outcomes than those with chronic pain alone. These findings indicate a more intense chronic pain experience for veterans when PTSD co-occurs with pain. PTSD did not lead to a differential response to a stepped-care intervention.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 709
Author(s):  
Sarah Nelson ◽  
Samantha Bento ◽  
Michelle Bosquet Enlow

Pediatric chronic pain is common and responsible for significant healthcare burden. However, the mechanisms underlying the development and/or maintenance of pediatric chronic pain remain poorly understood. Allostatic load (AL), or wear and tear on the nervous system following significant or prolonged stress, has been proposed to play a role in the maintenance of chronic pain, but minimal research has examined this possibility. This gap in research is particularly notable given the high exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; abuse/neglect, etc.) and psychological stress in this population. Accordingly, the current study aimed to preliminarily examine the measurement of AL in a treatment-seeking pediatric pain population. Biomarkers were collected during an already scheduled new patient pain evaluation and included salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and C-reactive protein, in addition to waist–hip ratio, body-mass index, and blood pressure. A total of 61 children and adolescents with chronic pain (Mage = 14.47 years; 88.5% female and white/Caucasian) completed study procedures and were included in analyses. Preliminary results indicated that a multifactorial AL composite is feasible to assess for in a tertiary pain treatment setting and that over 50% of youth with chronic pain were classified as high risk for AL (two or more risk factors). Further, it was found that individual AL risk factors were significantly associated with functional disability and that AL may moderate the association between psychosocial and functional outcomes. Given the pilot nature of this study, results should be used to inform future investigations with larger and more diverse pediatric pain samples.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandy Wolff ◽  
John W. Burns ◽  
Phillip J. Quartana ◽  
Kenneth Lofland ◽  
Stephen Bruehl ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 774-782
Author(s):  
Brigitte Brouwer ◽  
Sophie Waardenburg ◽  
Christian Jacobs ◽  
Marjori Overdijk ◽  
Carsten Leue ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesChronic pain affects many adults. To improve our daily practice, we need to understand multidisciplinary approaches, integrated treatment plans and the biopsychosocial context of these patients. To date, almost 15 000 chronic pain patients have been referred to the Maastricht University Pain Center in the Netherlands.MethodsThis study describes 11 214 of these patients suffering from chronic pain. Chronic pain was analyzed using relevant Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials instruments.ResultsMost patients were female (59.3%). The prevalence of low education was 59%, and unemployment/disability was 35.9%. The mean age was 55.6 years. Severe pain (Numerical Rating Sale score 7–10) was reported by 71.9% of the patients; psychological and quality of life values deteriorated when pain severity increased. Approximately 36% of patients showed severe signs of depression or anxiety, and 39% displayed high pain catastrophizing. Of all patients, 17.8% reported high values for pain severity, catastrophizing and anxiety or depression.ConclusionsBased on baseline biopsychosocial values, this study shows the complexity of patients referred to pain centers. Pain management with a biopsychosocial approach in an integrated multidisciplinary setting is indispensable. Above all, adjusted education on chronic pain and attention to its biopsychosocial aspects are deemed necessary.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E Simons ◽  
Melissa Pielech ◽  
Stefanie Cappucci ◽  
Alyssa Lebel

Objective The current study provides the first measure of pain-related fear for pediatric headache patients. Methods From a large pediatric headache clinic, a cross-sectional cohort of 206 children and adolescents completed measures of pain-related fear, anxiety sensitivity, catastrophizing, pain acceptance, functional disability, and school functioning. Results The two-factor solution of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FOPQ) was confirmed from the originally derived structure with pediatric headache patients. Simultaneously regressing FOPQ subscales fear of pain and activity avoidance on theorized construct validity measures demonstrated that fear of pain was more closely linked with anxiety sensitivity and pain catastrophizing while activity avoidance had a strong negative association with pain acceptance (activity engagement and pain willingness). Pain-related fear was not significantly associated with pain level. After controlling for demographic factors and pain, fear of pain and activity avoidance accounted for an additional 26% of the variance in functional disability and school functioning outcomes, with activity avoidance accounting for much of this relationship. Conclusions Although typically considered an influential construct among musculoskeletal patients, pain-related fear is also an important factor influencing functioning among pediatric headache patients, with the dimension of activity avoidance particularly salient.


2017 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasamin Sharifzadeh ◽  
Ming-Chih Kao ◽  
John A. Sturgeon ◽  
Thomas J. Rico ◽  
Sean Mackey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Pain catastrophizing is a maladaptive response to pain that amplifies chronic pain intensity and distress. Few studies have examined how pain catastrophizing relates to opioid prescription in outpatients with chronic pain. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective observational study of the relationships between opioid prescription, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing in 1,794 adults (1,129 women; 63%) presenting for new evaluation at a large tertiary care pain treatment center. Data were sourced primarily from an open-source, learning health system and pain registry and secondarily from manual review of electronic medical records. A binary opioid prescription variable (yes/no) constituted the dependent variable; independent variables were age, sex, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety. Results Most patients were prescribed at least one opioid medication (57%; n = 1,020). A significant interaction and main effects of pain intensity and pain catastrophizing on opioid prescription were noted (P < 0.04). Additive modeling revealed sex differences in the relationship between pain catastrophizing, pain intensity, and opioid prescription, such that opioid prescription became more common at lower levels of pain catastrophizing for women than for men. Conclusions Results supported the conclusion that pain catastrophizing and sex moderate the relationship between pain intensity and opioid prescription. Although men and women patients had similar Pain Catastrophizing Scale scores, historically “subthreshold” levels of pain catastrophizing were significantly associated with opioid prescription only for women patients. These findings suggest that pain intensity and catastrophizing contribute to different patterns of opioid prescription for men and women patients, highlighting a potential need for examination and intervention in future studies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Jensen ◽  
Ester Solé ◽  
Elena Castarlenas ◽  
Mélanie Racine ◽  
Rubén Roy ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimsTrait behavioral inhibition represents a tendency to react with negative emotions - primarily worry - to cues which signal potential threats. This tendency has been hypothesized by a two-factor model of chronic pain to have direct effects on psychological and physical function in individuals with chronic pain, as well as to influence the associations between pain-related maladaptive cognitions and function. Our aim was to test these hypothesized associations in a sample of individuals who were being screened for possible interdisciplinary chronic pain treatment.MethodsEighty-eight patients referred to an interdisciplinary chronic pain management program were administered measures of average pain intensity, trait behavioral inhibition, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, depressive symptoms, and pain interference. We then performed two linear regression analyses to evaluate the direct effects of trait behavioral inhibition on depressive symptoms and pain interference and the extent to which behavioral inhibition moderated the associations between kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing, and the criterion variables.ResultsIn partial support of the study hypotheses, the results showed significant (and independent) direct effects of trait behavioral inhibition on depressive symptoms, and behavioral inhibition moderated the association between kinesiophobia and depression, such that there were stronger associations between kinesiophobia and depressive symptoms in those with higher dispositional sensitivity to fear-inducing stimuli. However, neither direct nor moderating effects of behavioral inhibition emerged in the prediction of pain interference.ConclusionsIf replicated in additional studies, the findings would indicate that chronic pain treatments which target both reductions in maladaptive cognitions (to decrease the direct negative effects of these on depressive symptoms) and the individual’s tendency to respond to pain with worry (as a way to buffer the potential effects of maladaptive cognitions on depressive symptoms) might be more effective than treatments that targeted only one of these factors.ImplicationsAdditional research is needed to further evaluate the direct and moderating effects of pain-related behavioral inhibition on function, as well as the extent to which treatments which target behavioral inhibition responses provide benefits to individuals with chronic pain.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 827-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Miró ◽  
Elena Castarlenas ◽  
Rocío de la Vega ◽  
Santiago Galán ◽  
Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Fisher ◽  
Lauren C Heathcote ◽  
Christopher Eccleston ◽  
Laura E Simons ◽  
Tonya M Palermo

Abstract Objective To conduct a systematic review of pain anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and fear of pain measures psychometrically established in youth with chronic pain. The review addresses three specific aims: (1) to identify measures used in youth with chronic pain, summarizing their content, psychometric properties, and use; (2) to use evidence-based assessment criteria to rate each measure according to the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) guidelines; (3) to pool data across studies for meta-analysis of shared variance in psychometric performance in relation to the primary outcomes of pain intensity, disability, generalized anxiety, and depression. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and relevant literature for possible studies to include. We identified measures studied in youth with chronic pain that assessed pain anxiety, pain catastrophizing, or fear of pain and extracted the item-level content. Study and participant characteristics, and correlation data were extracted for summary and meta-analysis, and measures were rated using the SPP evidence-based assessment criteria. Results Fifty-four studies (84 papers) met the inclusion criteria, including seven relevant measures: one assessed pain anxiety, three pain catastrophizing, and three fear of pain. Overall, five measures were rated as “well established.” We conducted meta-analyses on four measures with available data. We found significant positive correlations with the variables pain intensity, disability, generalized anxiety, and depression. Conclusion Seven measures are available to assess pain anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and fear of pain in young people with chronic pain, and most are well established. We present implications for practice and directions for future research.


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