Research has shown that catastrophizing is related to increased depres
sion and chronic pain. However, some researchers have questioned the u
tility of catastrophizing as a separate construct, suggesting that it
may just be a symptom of depression. The present investigation used pa
th analysis to determine if catastrophizing was related to McGill Pain
Questionnaire scores when controlling for depression as assessed by t
he Beck Depression Inventory in a group of 85 chronic pain patients. A
ccording to Fields' model of the relationship between pain and depress
ion, we predicted that catastrophizing would mediate the relationship
between depression and the evaluative and affective aspects of pain, b
ut not the sensory aspect. The resulting path coefficients appear to s
upport these predictions. The results suggest that catastrophizing is
a separate construct which may impact on pain perception and treatment
. The data also provide some support for Field's neurobiological model
of the relationship between depression and pain.