Coping in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
There are few studies of the way patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders cope with pain and other aspects of the condition. This study analyses: (a) gender differences in coping strategies; (b) whether the patients can be sub-grouped based on their coping strategies and whether the sub-groups differ clinically; and (c) the relative importance of background variables, symptoms and coping for quality of life.


METHODS
A descriptive study.


METHODS
A total of 275 consecutive chronic patients with whiplash-associated disorders referred to a university hospital.


METHODS
A questionnaire covering background data, pain in different regions, symptoms not directly related to pain, Beck depression inventory, a Coping Strategy Questionnaire, a Life Satisfaction checklist (LiSat-11), SF-36 Health Survey and EuroQol instrument.


RESULTS
Three groups of patients were identified with respect to coping. Whether or not active coping strategies were used had little influence on health-related quality of life. When regressing health-related quality of life items, the following regressors were the most important: degree of depression, number of not directly pain-related symptoms, and catastrophizing cognitions influenced by pain intensities.


CONCLUSIONS
A mixture of symptoms (pain and depression) and coping (catastrophizing) seem to be interwoven and explain patients' health-related quality of life. These characteristics should be assessed when planning rehabilitation.
Peolsson
Michael
M
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, INR, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden.
Gerdle
Björn
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000523:psychology*