Pain and the marital relationship: psychiatric distress

Psychologic assessment and treatment of the family of the chronic pain patient has been thought to be of benefit in the outcome of pain therapy. The present study was designed to determine the presence of psychologic symptoms in the spouses of pain patients and the relationship of distress levels between the marital pair. Forty-four couples were studied. Demographic data was collected and each individual completed the SCL-90, a widely used and validated measure of psychologic symptom severity. There was a significant correlation (P = less than 0.001) on psychiatric distress scores between pain patients and their spouses particularly when pain patient distress scores were high. Distress levels tended to decrease with age and were highest among the unemployed and lowest in the retired. In addition spouses were significantly higher than nonpatient norms on most symptom subscales. These data underline the importance of conjoint assessment of the chronic pain patient and the spouse, and have implications for treatment.