International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

Forecasting Psychological Distress in Chronic Pain: The Influence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Pain Catastrophizing

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Farzin Bagheri-Sheykhangafshe 1
Hojatollah Farahani 1
Mohsen Dehghani 2
Ali Fathi-Ashtiani 3
1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.30491/ijbs.2024.446751.2086
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Pain (CP) is a multifaceted condition that encompasses more than just physical discomfort, intertwining with a variety of psychological factors. This study aims to explore the influence of post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Pain Catastrophizing (PC) on the prediction of Psychological Distress (PD) among patients grappling with CP.
Method: This research is a descriptive and correlational study. The population of the study included patients with CP who had referred to pain and physiotherapy centers in the Tehran province in 2022-2023. A sample of 395 individuals was selected by the convenience sampling method and then data was collected using psychological distress (DASS-21), post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Data were analyzed by SPSS-24 software using Pearson correlation and multiple regression.
Results: The results showed that the correlation between PD of CP with re-experiencing (r=0.66, P<0.001), avoidance (r=0.55, P<0.001), negative alterations (r=0.73, P<0.001), hyper-arousal (r=0.70, P<0.001), emotional numbness (r=0.74, P<0.001), rumination (r=0.70, P<0.001), magnification (r=0.64, P<0.001), and helplessness (r=0.74, P<0.001) was positive and significant. In addition, the results of multiple regression analysis revealed that PTSD and PC predict 73% of PD.
Conclusion: The current study contributes to the empirical understanding of the relationship between CP and PD and provides valuable insights for clinicians and researchers alike.
Keywords
Chronic Pain
Psychological Distress
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pain Catastrophizing
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 2
Summer 2024
Pages 91-97