Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: Pain catastrophizing has been shown to be a prognostic indicator for pain severity and the co-occurrence of mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after whiplash injury. However, the pattern of available findings is limited in its implications for the possible "antecedent" or "causal" role of pain catastrophizing. The purpose of the present study was to examine the temporal relations between pain catastrophizing, pain severity, depressive symptoms, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in individuals receiving treatment for whiplash injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 388 individuals enrolled in a multidisciplinary program for whiplash injury. Participants completed self-report measures of pain catastrophizing, pain severity, depressive symptoms, and PTSS at the time of admission, mid-treatment (4 week), and treatment completion (7 week). A cross-lagged panel analysis was used to examine the temporal relations between pain catastrophizing, pain severity, depressive symptoms, and PTSS across all 3 timepoints. RESULTS: Model fit was acceptable after the inclusion of modification indices. Pain catastrophizing at the time of admission predicted all other variables at 4 weeks. Pain catastrophizing at 4 weeks also predicted all other variables at 7 weeks. In addition, some bidirectional relations were present, particularly for variables assessed at week 4 and week 7. DISCUSSION: Findings support the view that pain catastrophizing might play a transdiagnostic role in the onset and maintenance of health and mental health conditions. The findings call for greater emphasis on the development of treatment techniques that target pain catastrophizing in intervention programs for whiplash injury.

Original publication

DOI

10.1097/AJP.0000000000001168

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clin J Pain

Publication Date

01/01/2024

Volume

40

Pages

10 - 17

Keywords

Humans, Whiplash Injuries, Pain Measurement, Pain, Catastrophization, Outcome Assessment, Health Care