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Psychological factors that influence self-reported pain
Abstract:
Explored the relationship among the MMPI, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the pain dimensions from the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The instruments were administered to 30 male VA patients with histories of pain for longer than 3 months. Multiple regression analyses that investigated the relationship between depression and the pain measures found no statistically significant correlations. Additionally, the MMPI subscales were not related significantly to the sensory-discriminative pain scores, the cognitive-evaluative pain scores, the present pain intensity scores, the percent of body area in pain, or the total number of pain words endorsed. In contrast, the MMPI subscales were related significantly to the motivational-affective pain dimension and the miscellaneous pain dimension. In the motivational-affective analysis, a significant positive correlation was found for the PT subscale, but a significant negative correlation was found for the Sc subscale. In the miscellaneous pain analysis, a significant positive correlation was found for the Hs subscale. The results are interpreted in the context of cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of chronic pain.
Insights
This study found that while depression measures did not correlate with most pain dimensions, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) showed significant links to the motivational-affective and miscellaneous pain dimensions in chronic pain patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pain Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Chronic pain significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
- Understanding the psychological correlates of chronic pain is crucial for effective treatment.
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) are commonly used psychological assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationships between the MMPI, the BDI, and various pain dimensions assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ).
- To explore how depression and personality traits measured by the MMPI relate to different aspects of chronic pain experience.
Main Methods:
- Thirty male U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with chronic pain (duration > 3 months) participated.
- Participants completed the MMPI, the BDI, and the MPQ.
- Multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the correlations between the psychological measures and pain dimensions.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant correlations were found between depression (BDI) and the pain measures from the MPQ.
- MMPI subscales showed no significant relationship with sensory-discriminative, cognitive-evaluative, present pain intensity, body area in pain, or total pain words endorsed.
- Significant correlations emerged between MMPI subscales and the motivational-affective pain dimension (PT: positive, Sc: negative) and the miscellaneous pain dimension (Hs: positive).
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that while general depression may not directly correlate with all pain dimensions, specific MMPI profiles are associated with the emotional and qualitative aspects of chronic pain.
- Results support cognitive-behavioral conceptualizations of chronic pain, highlighting the role of psychological factors in pain perception and experience.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay between personality, depression, and chronic pain.