Cognitive processes in comorbid poor sleep and chronic pain
Haley D Byers1, Kenneth L Lichstein2, Beverly E Thorn1
1Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Box 870348, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0348, USA.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|October 14, 2015
Summary
Cognitive pre-sleep arousal significantly predicts insomnia severity in chronic pain patients, overshadowing the impact of pain catastrophizing. This finding highlights the importance of addressing pre-sleep cognitive arousal for managing insomnia in chronic pain.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Insomnia severity is a significant issue for individuals with chronic pain.
- Pain catastrophizing, cognitive pre-sleep arousal, and somatic pre-sleep arousal are potential contributors to insomnia in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the unique and shared contributions of pain catastrophizing, cognitive pre-sleep arousal, and somatic pre-sleep arousal to insomnia severity in chronic pain.
- To identify predictors of insomnia severity in adults with chronic pain.
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight adults with chronic pain completed self-report measures.
- Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess the predictive relationships between study variables.
Main Results:
- Pain catastrophizing initially predicted insomnia severity, independent of pain intensity, depression, restless legs symptoms, and demographics.
- However, cognitive pre-sleep arousal emerged as a significant predictor, rendering the effect of pain catastrophizing non-significant when both were included in the model.
- Somatic pre-sleep arousal did not significantly predict insomnia severity in this study.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive pre-sleep arousal is a key factor in predicting insomnia severity among individuals with chronic pain.
- Clinical interventions for insomnia in chronic pain should consider targeting pre-sleep cognitive arousal.
- Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms linking cognitive arousal and insomnia in chronic pain.
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