Identifying distress profiles of individuals with chronic pain presenting to a multidisciplinary pain clinic.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Persistent pain is experienced by one in five Australian adults and can significantly impair quality of life. Psychological distress is more prevalent among patients with chronic pain compared to the general population. It is thought that individuals engaging in catastrophic thinking during the acute pain phase, may be more likely to develop chronic pain. Unhelpful thoughts about pain are also shown to be a significant predictor of pain related disability. Anxiety, depression and catastrophic thoughts about pain rarely act as independent constructs and evidence suggests that significant overlap results in pain-related distress. Individuals with higher levels of pain-related distress are challenging to treat and are less likely to respond to treatment. Pain patients can be profiled according to pain severity, psychological characteristics and coping style. Higher levels of pain severity, psychological distress and lower self-efficacy , all predict lower general health and poorer treatment outcomes.