The relation between pain beliefs, negative thoughts, and psychosocial functioning in chronic pain patients

Cognitions and beliefs appear important in predicting adjustment to chronic pain. The current study examines how cognitions and beliefs are related to psychosocial functioning. One hundred and sixty-three chronic pain out-pat ients were assessed. Regression analyses were performed using scores on the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory and the Inventory of Negative Thoug hts in Response to Pain as predictor variables and responses to the West Ha ven Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory as criterion variables. Pain cogni tions and pain beliefs were correlated. After controlling for demographics, employment status and pain severity, pain beliefs and cognitions accounted for a significant amount of the variance in general activity, pain interfe rence, and affective distress. Negative cognitions, particularly negative s elf-statements, were more predictive of outcome than pain beliefs. Although these data are correlational, they provide additional support for a biopsy chosocial model of adjustment to chronic pain. (C) 2000 International Assoc iation for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.