Influencing Psychologic Factors and Stress in Patients with Chronic Pain

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of psychologic factors and stress on chronic pain syndrome and predictive factors of chronic pain. METHOD: The subjects were 23 patients with chronic pain. The age was ranged from 25 to 66 years with an average of 45. We measured pain with initial visual analogue scale (VAS), one-week total VAS, and tenderness threshold by pressure algometer. We evaluated the degree of depression, anxiety and disability with chronic pain and the impact of stress of major versus minor daily events. Association between degree of pain and psychologic factors was studied by regression and stress of major versus minor daily events by correlation analysis. Predictive factors for chronic pain were determined by multiple regression analysis. Association of daily fluctuation of pain severity and stress from minor life events was also studied. RESULTS: One-week total VAS was associated with initial VAS (r=0.601, p<0.05). Initial VAS had association with depression and anxiety. Predictive factors for one-week total VAS were initial VAS, static anxiety, and pain disability (r=0.624, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Depression, anxiety, pain disability from chronic pain, and stress were major influencing factors in patients with chronic pain.