This study examined possible psychological differences between Reflex
Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and non-RSD chronic pain patients. Unlike
the few previous studies in this area, this study controlled statistic
ally for age and pain duration differences across diagnostic groups, a
nd included a non-RSD limb pain control group. Subjects were a consecu
tive series of 34 RSD, 50 non-RSD limb pain (Limb), and 165 low back p
ain (LBP) patients presenting for treatment at the Rush Pain Center, A
nalyses revealed that RSD patients reported more somatization and phob
ic anxiety on the Brief Symptom Inventory than LBP patients. RSD patie
nts also reported greater coping with pain through diverting attention
than LBP patients did on the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Compari
sons between the RSD and Limb groups revealed no significant differenc
es with the exception of somatization scores. The relationship between
distress and pain severity was found to be stronger in RSD and Limb p
atients than in LBP patients, These results provide partial support fo
r clinical assumptions that RSD patients are more psychologically dysf
unctional than other chronic pain patients, However, these conclusions
do not generalize across all comparison groups, The fact that RSD and
non-RSD limb pain patients were quite similar on nearly all measures
suggests that sympathetic mediation of pain is not the source of these
psychological differences.