title: Pain Catastrophizing Correlates with Early Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome.
abstract: Background. Identifying which patients are most likely to be at risk of chronic pain and other postconcussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a difficult clinical challenge. Objectives. To examine the relationship between pain catastrophizing, defined as the exaggerated negative appraisal of a pain experience, and early MTBI outcome. Methods. This cross-sectional design included 58 patients diagnosed with a MTBI. In addition to medical chart review, postconcussion symptoms were assessed by self-report at 1 month (Time 1) and 8 weeks (Time 2) after MTBI. Pain severity, psychological distress, level of functionality, and pain catastrophizing were measured by self-report at Time 2. Results. The pain catastrophizing subscales of rumination, magnification, and helplessness were significantly correlated with pain severity (r = .31 to .44), number of postconcussion symptoms reported (r = .35 to .45), psychological distress (r = .57 to .67), and level of functionality (r = -.43 to -.29). Pain catastrophizing scores were significantly higher for patients deemed to be at high risk of postconcussion syndrome (6 or more symptoms reported at both Time 1 and Time 2). Conclusions. Higher levels of pain catastrophizing were related to adverse early MTBI outcomes. The early detection of pain catastrophizing may facilitate goal-oriented interventions to prevent or minimize the development of chronic pain and other postconcussion symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Support and Palliative Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada H4A 3J1.
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 1Y2.
authors.forename: Susanne P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lajoie
authors.affiliation: HoPingKong Centre for Excellence in Education and Practice, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 2S8.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Naismith
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lavigne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000209:etiology; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D058443:Catastrophization / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D057566:Self Report; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult