[Chronic pain, pain self-efficacy and suicidal ideation: the moderating role of pain self-efficacy on relation between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients]

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain has some deleterious outcomes such as suicide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between depression, pain self-efficacy, and suicidal ideation. In a descriptive study, from spring to summer 2011 in Tehran, 264 patients with chronic pain were selected via a convenience sampling method. These patients completed suicidal ideation, depression and pain self-efficacy questionnaires. The collected data were analysed, using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. While there was a significant and positive correlation between suicidal ideation and depression [r=0.56, P<0.01], there was a significant and negative correlation between suicidal ideation and pain self-efficacy [r=-0.36, P<0.01]. The result of multiple regression analysis indicates that pain self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. There is a significant relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients. Furthermore, pain self-efficacy moderates the association between depression and suicidal ideation. The results provide further support for cognitive-behavioral pain self-management programs and point to the potential benefits of interventions aimed to increase sense of pain self-efficacy among patients suffering from chronic pain