Cognitive factors and the experience of pain and suffering in older persons

Cognitive factors are thought to play an important mediational role between pain and consequent levels of suffering, yet there has been little investigation of these issues in older chronic pain patients. The present study sought to examine the reliability and validity of the Pain Locus of Control (PLOC) scale when used with older patients, to explore age differences in PLOC orientation, and examine the relationship between cognitive beliefs and levels of pain and suffering. 169 older patients attending a pain management clinic completed a comprehensive psychometric battery prior to admission. Principal components analysis replicated the original factor structure of the PLOC previously identified in young adult samples, suggesting that older patients adopt the same underlying constructs of control. The internal item consistency of the 36 item scale was shown to be very good to excellent. Older adults endorsed a higher chance locus of control, but this orientation was amenable to change following a cognitive-behavioural treatment program. PLOC orientation was related to use of coping strategies, levels of pain and depression, functional and psychosocial impact as well as compliance with treatment protocols. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that self perceived interference from pain and internal PLOC were the best predictors of depressive symptoms in older adults. In combination, these findings suggest that cognitive factors are of importance in older chronic pain patients and extend the relevance of cognitive-behavioural models of pain across the entire adult age spectrum.