The Clinical journal of pain
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Pain catastrophizing has been shown to be correlated with measures of mental health problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the clinical implications of findings reported to date remain unclear. To date, no study has been conducted to determine meaningful cut-scores on measures of catastrophizing indicative of the heightened risk of mental health comorbidity. One objective of the present study was to identify the cut-score on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) indicative of the heightened risk of the comorbidity of depression and PTSD. A second objective was to determine whether mental health comorbidity mediated the relationship between catastrophizing and occupational disability. ⋯ The findings suggest that a score of ≥22 on the PCS should alert clinicians to the possibility that patients might also be experiencing clinically significant symptoms of depression or PTSD. Greater attention to the detection and treatment of mental health conditions associated with whiplash injury might contribute to more positive recovery outcomes.
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Evidence suggests that there is an association between chronic pain and disruption of the body schema. We tested the hypothesis in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). ⋯ Our present findings suggest a disrupted body schema and propensity to experiencing anomalous somatosensory sensations during SMC in people with FMS.
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This study aimed to identify relationships between sensory function and pain in 3 common pain conditions (arthritis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome [CRPS] and fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS]) and pain-free participants. Sensory abnormalities are known to be concomitant with some types of chronic pain but comparison across pain conditions using existing research is difficult due to methodological differences. Pragmatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) methods were used. ⋯ People with FMS and CRPS demonstrate extensive sensory dysfunction. Arthritis patients had sensory profiles closer to pain-free participants. LTT may provide a clinically relevant and accessible assessment for CRPS.