Relationship of learned resourcefulness to measures of pain description, psychopathology and health behavior in a sample of chronic pain patients.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between the coping style of learned resourcefulness and the variables of pain description, pain locus of control, psychological distress, and health-care utilization.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, retrospective, correlational design was used.


METHODS
The sample was comprised of 87 outpatients from a university-based, multidisciplinary pain clinic.


METHODS
Self-Control Schedule, pain intensity, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Locus of Control Scale, SCL-90-R, Health-Care Utilization Questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that chronic pain patients obtained comparable resourcefulness ratings to normal subjects but there were wide individual differences. Consistent with theoretical predictions, resourcefulness was found to be associated with better psychological adjustment and less impulsive health-care measures. Results suggest that assessment of learned resourcefulness may be useful in predicting behavioral outcome in clinical settings with chronic pain patients.
Toomey
T C
TC
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill 27599-7160, U.S.A.
Seville
J L
JL
Mann
J D
JD
Abashian
S W
SW
Wingfield
M S
MS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies