Subject:
|
DCN 1: Perception and Action EBP 1: Determinants of Health and Disease EBP 3: Effective Primary Care and Public Health N4i 4: Auto-immunity, transplantation and immunotherapy NCEBP 2: Evaluation of complex medical interventions NCEBP 8: Psychological determinants of chronic illness EBP 1: Determinants of Health and Disease |
Organization:
|
Anesthesiology Medical Psychology IQ Healthcare |
Journal title:
|
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|
Abstract:
|
OBJECTIVE: Based on the fear-avoidance and helplessness models, the relative contribution of fear of pain, avoidance behavior, worrying, and helplessness were examined in relation to fluctuations in functional disability in chronic-pain patients. METHODS: A cohort of 181 chronic-pain patients first completed various questionnaires and kept a 7-day pain journal during a standard 3-month waiting-list period prior to their scheduled treatment at an Interdisciplinary Pain Centre and did so again immediately preceding the intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, fear of pain, avoidance behavior, and helplessness all predicted functional disability after 3 months. Stepwise regression analyses showed avoidance behavior to be the strongest predictor of change in functional disability followed by helplessness, thus both ahead of fear of pain. CONCLUSION: The current findings support the roles of both fear-avoidance factors and helplessness in the functional disability in chronic-pain patients awaiting treatment but revealed a central role for avoidance behavior.
|