Citation

Chaput G, Lajoie SP, Naismith LM, Lavigne G. Pain Res. Manag. 2016; 2016: e2825856.

Affiliation

Department of Dentistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, The Author(s) or Canadian Pain Society, Publisher Hindawi Publishing)

DOI

10.1155/2016/2825856

PMID

27445604

Abstract

Background. Identifying which patients are most likely to be at risk of chronic pain and other postconcussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a difficult clinical challenge.

OBJECTIVEs. To examine the relationship between pain catastrophizing, defined as the exaggerated negative appraisal of a pain experience, and early MTBI outcome.

METHODS. This cross-sectional design included 58 patients diagnosed with a MTBI. In addition to medical chart review, postconcussion symptoms were assessed by self-report at 1 month (Time 1) and 8 weeks (Time 2) after MTBI. Pain severity, psychological distress, level of functionality, and pain catastrophizing were measured by self-report at Time 2.

RESULTS. The pain catastrophizing subscales of rumination, magnification, and helplessness were significantly correlated with pain severity (r =.31 to.44), number of postconcussion symptoms reported (r =.35 to.45), psychological distress (r =.57 to.67), and level of functionality (r = -.43 to -.29). Pain catastrophizing scores were significantly higher for patients deemed to be at high risk of postconcussion syndrome (6 or more symptoms reported at both Time 1 and Time 2).

CONCLUSIONS. Higher levels of pain catastrophizing were related to adverse early MTBI outcomes. The early detection of pain catastrophizing may facilitate goal-oriented interventions to prevent or minimize the development of chronic pain and other postconcussion symptoms.

Language: en