title: Psychological factors and personality traits associated with patients in chronic foot and ankle pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of psychosocial factors and personality traits in chronic pain is well established. However, there has been limited literature analyzing the influence of psychological issues in chronic foot and ankle pain. The aim of our study was to identify the association of certain psychosocial factors and personality traits in individuals with chronic painful foot and ankle disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic foot and ankle pain were recruited from the specialist foot and ankle clinic. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) scale were administered in the form of questionnaires. An age- and sex-matched cohort of healthy volunteers served as the control group. Sample size was determined after power calculation, and a total of 90 participants were recruited with informed consent with 45 participants in each arm. Results were analyzed and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with chronic foot and ankle pain had significantly higher neuroticism scores than the control group (P < .05). The study also revealed greater prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed a significant association of anxiety, depression, and neuroticism in patients presenting with chronic foot and ankle pain. Clinicians should recognize the influence of these specific psychological issues to provide a more holistic approach to the clinical problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, case control study.
authors.affiliation: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Wirral University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wirral, UK Deepak.Shivarathre@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Deepak Gubbi
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Shivarathre
authors.affiliation: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Wirral University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wirral, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Mersey Care NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Sowmya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Wirral University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wirral, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Wirral University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wirral, UK.
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
keywords: anxiety; chronic foot pain; depression; neuroticism; psychological