Stable factors in chronic pain.
In an effort to identify components of the chronic pain experience, a sample of 444 chronic pain patients who had completed a battery of self-report measures was divided into two groups. The data from each group were analyzed using principal components analysis. Four factors emerged for one group of patients, which accounted for 57.6% of the variance and represented the dimensions of psychological distress, pain-related disability, pain description, and pain history. In the other group, five factors emerged that accounted for 64.2% of the variance. These factors represented psychological distress, disability, pain intensity, pain sensation, and pain history. The similarity of these factors across groups suggests that they represent stable dimensions of the patient's pain experience. Research implications and methodological considerations are discussed.
Tait
R C
RC
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, St. Louis University School of Medicine, MO 63104.
Chibnall
J T
JT
Duckro
P N
PN
Deshields
T L
TL
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life