Pain Catastrophizing Correlates with Early Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome

• Main Authors: Geneviève Chaput, Susanne P. Lajoie, Laura M. Naismith, Gilles Lavigne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
• Series: Pain Research and Management
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2825856

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.