• Shari A Cave, Lisa M Reynolds, Natalie L Tuck, Tipu Aamir, Arier C Lee, and Debbie J Bean.
• Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Anaesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand - Waitematā, Auckland, New Zealand.
• J Pain. 2023 Nov 1; 24 (11): 195719671957-1967.

AbstractFactors contributing to the varied outcomes of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are not well known. This study aimed to determine whether baseline psychological factors, pain, and disability influence long-term CRPS outcomes. We conducted an 8-year follow-up from a previous prospective study of CRPS outcomes. Sixty-six people diagnosed with acute CRPS were previously assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months and in the current study, 45 were followed up after 8 years. At each timepoint, we measured signs and symptoms of CRPS, pain, disability, and psychological factors. Mixed-model repeated measures were used to identify baseline predictors of CRPS severity, pain, and disability at 8 years. Predictors of greater CRPS severity at 8 years were female sex, greater baseline disability, and greater baseline pain. Predictors of greater pain at 8 years were greater baseline anxiety and disability. The only predictor of greater disability at 8 years was greater baseline pain. Findings suggest CRPS is best understood from a biopsychosocial perspective, and baseline anxiety, pain, and disability may influence the trajectory of CRPS outcomes as far as 8 years later. These variables could be used to identify those at risk of poor outcomes or form targets for early interventions. PERSPECTIVE: This paper presents the findings of the first study to prospectively investigate predictors of CRPS outcomes over 8 years. Baseline anxiety, pain, and disability predicted greater CRPS severity, pain, and disability over 8 years. These factors could identify those at risk of poor outcomes or form targets for early interventions.Copyright © 2023 United States Association for the Study of Pain, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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