title: [Reduction in chronic pelvic pain in women with less catastrophizing pain]
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the course of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) symptoms in women and to explore factors associated with changes in pain intensity and adjustment to pain in the long term. DESIGN: Follow-up study. METHOD: All women who had visited a Chronic Pelvic Pain team of a university hospital in the past were invited to participate. All completed a set of questionnaires at their first visit and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 131 women who met the inclusion criteria, 84 (64%) consented to participation in this follow-up study. After a mean follow-up period of 3 years, significant changes were found as regards a reduction in pain intensity, an improvement in adjustment to pain (i.e., physical well-being and depressive symptoms), a reduction in catastrophizing pain and an increase in perceived pain control. Neither sociodemographic, clinical nor pain-related variables were associated with these changes. Pain appraisals and pain coping strategies at baseline did not predict changes from baseline in pain intensity. A reduction in catastrophizing pain, however, was associated with a reduction in pain intensity and adjustment to pain, especially as regards physical well-being and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: After 3 years' follow-up, an improvement in pain intensity was observed in women with CPP, and this was not associated with baseline pain appraisals and coping strategies. A reduction in catastrophizing pain was related to better outcome in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Gynaecologie, Polikliniek Psychosomatische Gynaecologie en Seksuologie, the Netherlands. p.t.m.weijenborg@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Philomeen T M
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Weijenborg
authors.forename: Moniek M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: ter Kuile
authors.forename: Jessica P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gopie
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spinhoven
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D058443:Catastrophization; D059350:Chronic Pain; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires