title: Is pain catastrophizing a stable trait or dynamic state in patients scheduled for knee arthroplasty?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to clarify whether pain-related catastrophizing is a response that varies given a specific situational circumstance (state) or an enduring personality construct (trait).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cohort study of 150 patients undergoing total knee arthroscopy at 2 hospitals. Patients completed a battery of psychological measures, provided various sociodemographic data, and were followed for 6 months. We hypothesized that associated total knee arthroscopy surgery and recovery would predict future catastrophizing severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for baseline covariates of age, sex, ethnicity, depression, and anxiety, we found that current pain sensation intensity predicted future catastrophizing severity. Change in pain intensity was associated with the change in catastrophizing for the baseline to 6 months postsurgery, but not between the baseline to 2 months postsurgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide preliminary support for the notion that pain-related catastrophizing is a dynamic construct that is related to pain intensity.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0268, USA. jwade@mcvh-vcu.edu
authors: James B
authors: JB
authors: Wade
authors: Daniel L
authors: DL
authors: Riddle
authors: Leroy R
authors: LR
authors: Thacker
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058443:Catastrophization / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology