title: Can the outcome of spinal cord stimulation in chronic complex regional pain syndrome type I patients be predicted by catastrophizing thoughts?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we examined whether pain catastrophizing is a predictor of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) outcome in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in this prospective cohort study were 32 patients with chronic CRPS-I, who received permanent SCS after a positive response to test stimulation. Baseline assessment was performed before test stimulation and included questions on demographic variables, disease information, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and health-related quality of life (QOL). Follow-up assessment was performed 9 mo after final implantation and included pain intensity, global perceived effect (GPE), and QOL. Successful SCS outcome was defined as a reduction of pain intensity of at least 50% on a visual analog scale or "much improved" or "total pain relief" on GPE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 9 months, 38% of the patients had a successful outcome in reduced pain intensity and 53% of the patients in GPE. In addition, improvements were apparent on several of the domains of QOL. However, no evidence was found for the predictive value of pain catastrophizing on the efficacy of SCS in reduction of pain intensity, GPE, or QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the efficacy of SCS in reduction of pain intensity, GPE, and QOL in a well-defined chronic CRPS-I population was not predicted by pain catastrophizing. Therefore, we conclude that a high level of pain catastrophizing in patients with CRPS-I is not a contraindication for SCS treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, ResearchCentre, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. ingelame@telfort.n
authors.forename: Inge E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Lamé
authors.forename: Madelon L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patijn
authors.forename: Alfons G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Kleef
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult