Catastrophizing as a cognitive vulnerability factor related to depression in workers' compensation patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of catastrophizing as a mediator and moderator between life stress and depression in a sample of workers' compensation patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pain intensity, life stress (especially work and financial stress), and catastrophizing contributed significantly to depression. Catastrophizing was found to be partially mediating the relationship between life stress and depression and a moderator between social stress and depression. The results supported the role of catastrophizing as a cognitive vulnerability-stress factor related to depression in chronic pain patients. Screening for life stress and intervening early to prevent catastrophizing from occurring in the workers' compensation rehabilitation process may reduce psychosocial distress and enhance the overall effectiveness of rehabilitation programming for workers' compensation patients with chronic pain.
Lee
Eun-Jeong
EJ
Institute of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3105 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA. elee20@iit.edu
Wu
Ming-Yi
MY
Lee
Gloria K
GK
Cheing
Gladys
G
Chan
Fong
F
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*