Spousal responses are differentially associated with clinical variables in women and men with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
Spousal responses have been related to clinical variables in patients with chronic pain. For example, solicitous responses from spouses have been associated with greater levels of pain and disability among patients with chronic pain. However, few investigators have determined whether spousal solicitousness produces different effects in women versus men with chronic pain. The present study examined pain reports, medication use, psychosocial factors, functional measures, and pain tolerance in patients with chronic pain.


METHODS
Subjects included 114 female and 213 male chronic pain patients, who described their spouses as either high or low in solicitousness on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Measures of pain severity, affective distress, physical function, medication use, and pain tolerance were examined in women and men with high versus low scores on spousal solicitousness.


RESULTS
Among males only, high spousal solicitousness was associated with greater numerical ratings of pain and greater self-reported disability compared with patients with low solicitous spouses. Among females only, the high spousal solicitousness patients showed lower pain tolerance, greater pain-related interference, poorer performance on functional tasks (eg, timed walking, lifting, and carrying tasks), and greater use of opioid medications. In both women and men, spousal solicitousness was associated with higher scores on the MPI pain severity scale.


CONCLUSIONS
These results extend previous findings demonstrating a relationship between spousal responses and patients' adjustment to pain; however, the pattern of these effects appears to be moderated by the sex of the patient. Implications for assessment and treatment of chronic pain are discussed.
Fillingim
Roger B
RB
University of Florida College of Dentistry Public Health Services and Research, and North Florida South Georgia VA Health System, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. rfillingim@dental.ufl.edu
Doleys
Daniel M
DM
Edwards
Robert R
RR
Lowery
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D009294:Narcotics