title: Positive affect and pain ratings in persons with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between positive affect at discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation and pain ratings 3 months postdischarge in persons with stroke aged 50 or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study using information from the Stroke Recovery in Underserved Population (SRUP) data base. A 4-item positive affect scale and an 11-point visual analog pain scale were collected at discharge and at 3 months postdischarge.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 917 adults aged 50 and older with first-time stroke admitted to one of eleven inpatient medical rehabilitation facilities across the United States.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the sample was 71 years, 51.0% were women, and 51.6% were married. One third of the sample reported pain and the mean positive affect score was 9.2 (range 0-12). Cumulative logit models showed higher positive affect scores at discharge were significantly associated with lower pain ratings (OR: 0.87, 95% CI 0.81, 0.92) at 3-month follow-up after adjusting for discharge pain ratings, negative affect, and demographic and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High positive affect at discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation was associated with lower pain ratings 3 months post discharge after controlling for pain and negative affect at discharge and clinical and demographic characteristics. The identification of links between positive affect and pain may contribute to a better understanding of functional recovery processes poststroke and the planning of therapeutic programs directed at the positive psychological strengths in elderly persons with stroke.
authors.affiliation: Sealy Center on Aging and Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. imberges@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Ivonne-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Berges
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.forename: Glenn V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ostir
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation