title: Pain-related fear of movement and catastrophizing in whiplash-associated disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study was to test whether pain-related fear of movement and catastrophizing were predictors of pain intensity and disability 6 months after a whiplash injury. The mediator role of fear of movement was also explored. A sample of 147 whiplash patients with neck pain for less than 3 months participated in the first assessment, and 123 of them were interviewed again at a 6-month follow-up. Multiple regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fear of movement, initial pain intensity and initial disability were independent predictors of disability at the 6-month follow-up. Initial pain intensity and initial pain duration were significant predictors of pain intensity at 6 months. Fear of movement was found not to be a mediator in either of the 2 outcomes at the 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that interventions designed to reduce the impact of injury severity and pain-related fear of movement after a motor vehicle accident may be relevant for preventing long-lasting symptoms.
authors.affiliation: PSiNET Research Group, Internet Interdisciplinary Institute, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.affiliation: Unit for the Study and Treatment of Pain, ALGOS, Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1998-6653
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.affiliation: IWK Health Centre.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huguet
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D058443:Catastrophization / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*