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The Relationship Between Catastrophic Thinking and Hand Diagram Areas
Ali Moradi1, Jos J Mellema2, Kamilcan Oflazoglu2
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Pain catastrophic thinking, depression, and health anxiety are linked to larger marked pain and numbness areas on hand diagrams. Catastrophic thinking was a key predictor for both pain and numbness areas.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Imaging
- Pain Management
Background:
- Psychosocial factors significantly influence the perception and reporting of pain and numbness.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for effective patient assessment and management of upper extremity conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the extent of marked pain and numbness on hand diagrams and specific psychosocial factors.
- To identify psychosocial predictors of symptom area in patients with upper extremity conditions.
Main Methods:
- 155 patients marked painful and numb areas on hand diagrams.
- Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing depression, pain catastrophic thinking, and health anxiety.
- Bivariate and multivariable analyses were employed to determine significant associations.
Main Results:
- Marked pain area correlated with pain catastrophic thinking, depression, and health anxiety.
- Pain catastrophic thinking was the sole independent predictor of marked pain area (10% variance).
- Marked numbness area correlated with symptom onset interval, diagnosis (carpal tunnel syndrome), pain catastrophic thinking, and depression.
Conclusions:
- Catastrophic thinking is independently associated with larger pain and numbness areas.
- Extensive symptom marking may indicate less effective coping mechanisms.
- Hand diagrams can serve as a tool to discuss coping strategies and illness behavior.
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