Disability and rehabilitation
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Comparative Study
A comparison of chronic pain patients and controls on traumatic events in childhood.
The purpose was to examine the incidence of traumatic events in childhood, such as sexual and physical abuse, in a chronic pain group and a control group of hospital employees without chronic pain. ⋯ A history of physical, sexual and verbal abuse is more likely to occur in a chronic pain group than in a control group of hospital employees. Although child abuse is reported to be as high as 25% in the general American population, the statistics for chronic pain patients are twice as high as in the general population. The mechanisms for abuse include age, gender, and early family environment.
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A path analytic model conceptualizing self efficacy as a mediator of disability was tested. This model could help explain the circumstances under which disability develops more in some chronic pain patients than in others. ⋯ Self efficacy in an important variable contributing to the disability of chronic pain patients. Therefore, evaluating and bolstering the patient's belief in their own abilities may be an important component of therapy.