title: Pain-related worry in patients with chronic orofacial pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain-related worry is distinct from, but related to, pain catastrophizing (PC) and anxiety. Worry and its relationship with other variables have been studied in people with chronic pain but not in people with chronic orofacial pain. The authors explored the prevalence of trait, general and pain-related worry and the association of worry with higher pain levels and other variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors assessed people who had a diagnosis of chronic orofacial pain by using nonpain-related trait worry, state anxiety, trait anxiety, PC and pain measures. The participants' answers to an open-ended question about what they were most worried about led to the identification of worry domains, including worry about pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors found that worrying about pain was related significantly to worst and least pain levels, pain interference and pain duration, as well as moderated trait worry in predicting pain interference. Although trait worry was not correlated directly with pain, when moderated by PC, it made substantial contributions in predicting pain interference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants with chronic orofacial pain reported experiencing substantial levels of trait worry, anxiety, PC and worry about pain that related to pain ratings directly and indirectly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should assess pain-related worry in patients with chronic orofacial pain to understand the effects of worry on pain and functioning. Clinicians could treat these patients more effectively by helping them reduce their levels of pain-related worry and focusing on improved coping.
authors: Dr. Davis is the unit chief, Behavioral Sciences, and a clinical assistant professor, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, 1851 Mac-Gregor Downs Road, MS 107, Greenville, N.C. 27834, e-mail daviscl@ecu.edu. Address correspondence to Dr. Davis.
authors: C Ervin
authors: CE
authors: Davis
authors: Dr. Stockstill is an associate professor, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Stockstill
authors: Dr. Stanley is an endodonist in private practice, Piedmont Endodontics, Greensboro, N.C.
authors: William D
authors: WD
authors: Stanley
authors: Dr. Wu is an assistant professor, Department of Biostatistics, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D058443:Catastrophization; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Psychological adaptation; anxiety disorders; behavioral sciences; facial pain; myofascial pain; orofacial pain