Does personality or psychopathology predict disability in chronic pain patients?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of person ality characteristics, depression and personality disorders in predicting d isability status in pain patients one year later. Method: Subjects were 250 volunteer chronic pain patients. The baseline eva luation consisted of the Karolinska Scales of Personality and psychiatric e valuation of depression and personality disorders using standardized diagno stic instruments. Disability status was assessed by insurance record review one year after the evaluation. Results: The results suggest that baseline personality traits and psychopat hology (i.e. depression or personality disorders) were not useful predictor s of disability status in pain patients with one-year follow-up. Conclusions: These data suggest that personality characteristics and psycho pathology are probably not important disability predictors in chronic pain patients.