Distinct multidimensional anger profiles predict current and long-term chronic pain outcomes.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Anger is common in chronic pain (CP), often worsening distress and disability.
• Understanding the interplay of anger dimensions is crucial for effective CP management.
• Current research often overlooks the multifaceted nature of anger in chronic pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct anger profiles in individuals with CP using latent profile analysis (LPA).
• To examine the association of these anger profiles with pain outcomes cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
• To determine if anger profiles predict pain outcomes beyond anxiety and depression.

Main Methods:

• Utilized latent profile analysis (LPA) on anger metrics from 735 adult CP patients.
• Assessed state/trait anger, anger expression/control, and perceived injustice.
• Examined associations with pain intensity, distribution, interference, behavior, and physical function at baseline and follow-up (n=242).

Main Results:

• Identified four distinct anger profiles based on anger levels and perceived injustice.
• These profiles significantly correlated with pain outcomes at baseline and follow-up, independent of anxiety and depression.
• Profiles with medium-to-high anger and perceived injustice predicted the most severe pain outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Multidimensional anger profiles, especially those involving perceived injustice, are associated with high-impact chronic pain.
• Early identification of these profiles can aid in risk stratification and personalized pain management.
• Tailored, anger-focused interventions are essential for improving long-term outcomes in chronic pain patients.