Coping with chronic pain associated with cerebral palsy.
Fifty-nine adults with cerebral palsy (CP) were administered, via in-person interviews, measures of pain intensity, pain-related disability, and psychological functioning, in addition to a measure of pain coping (Waldron/Varni Pediatric Pain Coping Inventory; PPCI). Regression analyses indicated that the PPCI scales made a nonsignificant contribution to the prediction of pain intensity, but did make a significant contribution to the prediction of psychological functioning when controlling for pain intensity. Only the PPCI Catastrophizing subscale made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of psychological functioning, and only the PPCI Seek Social Support subscale made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of pain-related disability. These findings support a link between coping and functioning among adults with CP, and suggest that catastrophizing responses and some aspects of support seeking may be maladaptive for coping with CP-related pain. Limitations of the study include a correlational design, a reliance on self-report data, and a small subject population. Experimental research is needed to determine if changes in coping lead to changes in psychological and physical functioning.
Engel
Joyce M
JM
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington 98195-6490, USA. knowles@u.washington.edu
Jensen
Mark P
MP
Schwartz
Lauren
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support