Mindfulness and pain catastrophization: how are they associated in women with chronic painful temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

OBJECTIVE: Pain catastrophizing has dimensions of magnification, rumination, and helplessness, being an important evaluator of chronic pain. Studies with mindfulness intervention point to a possible modulation of chronic pain catastrophizing behavior. However, how these facets of mindfulness are associated with the catastrophizing subscales is uncertain. The scope of this study is to verify how the association of mindfulness facets and catastrophizing subdimensions occurs. METHODS: Women with chronic TMD answered the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). RESULTS: Magnification was inversely correlated with "not reacting," "not judging," and the total FFMQ score. Total PCS was also inversely correlated with "not reacting." CONCLUSION: It is necessary to consider such possible correlations between mindfulness facets and the catastrophizing subdimensions in mindfulness-based interventions for this population.