Citation

Van Loey NE, Klein I, de Jong AEE, Hofland HWC, Vandermeulen E, Engelhard IM. Eur. J. Pain 2018; 22(6): 1151-1159.

Affiliation

Utrecht University, Clinical Psychology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1002/ejp.1203

PMID

29436110

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pain and PTSD symptoms are significant problems in the aftermath of a burn injury and they often co-occur. Catastrophizing has been linked to both phenomena. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying role of catastrophizing in PTSD symptoms and pain following burns.

METHODS: This prospective study included 216 patients with burns. PTSD symptoms and pain were measured during hospitalization (T1) and 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3) postburn. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) indexed PTSD symptoms. Acute pain (T1) was the mean pain during the first two weeks of hospitalization measured using an 11-point graphic numeric rating scale. Chronic pain was indexed using the single item 'average' pain from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Catastrophizing was measured at T1 and T2 using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTS: The results showed that T2 catastrophizing mediated between acute and chronic PTSD symptoms, and T3 pain. Furthermore, the study revealed significant associations between catastrophizing, PTSD symptoms and pain at the respective measurements, and significant longitudinal associations between the constructs.

CONCLUSION: A negative cognitive-affective response to a burn event, such as catastrophizing, mediated the relationship acute and chronic PTSD symptoms and later chronic pain. Screening for catastrophizing and acute PTSD symptoms is recommended to identify persons at risk for chronic PTSD symptoms and pain. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en