Coping strategies of chronic and acute pain patients: Clinical and experimental pain.

Abstract

The present investigation sought to investigate the coping strategies of chronic pain, acute pain patients and pain-free controls in three areas: (1) Clinical pain; (2) Experimental acute pain and (3) Non-pain stressors. Clinical pain coping strategies were assessed with the Coping Strategy Questionnaire (CSQ) while coping with a non-pain stressor was assessed by the Ways of Coping. Experimental acute pain was induced with a pressure pain device. Pain tolerance and pain ratings were taken. Following the acute-pain induction procedure, each subject's cognitions were scored and rated for the presence of two types of cognitions: catastrophizing and non-catastrophizing. The results indicated that non-catastrophizers kept their finger in the pain apparatus longer and rated the sensations as less painful. No significant differences however, were found among the three groups with respect to pain tolerance, pain ratings or cognitive style. The chronic pain group scored higher than the control group on a subscale measuring catastrophizing strategies. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)