971 Application of the Match‐mismatch Model in Chronic Pain Treatment: An Experience Sampling Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: Psychological screening measures are increasingly used in clinical settings either to match subgroups of patients with similar characteristics or as means in therapeutic decision making. Any screening measure with diagnostic consequences needs to be stable in similar time. In this study the stability of two frequently used screening measures in chronic pain, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), was investigated over a relatively long interval of time. In addition, stability of the TSK and PCS subscales was examined. Methods: A test-retest study of the PCS and TSK was conducted in 50 consecutive non-malignant chronic pain patients of an Outpatient Clinic for Pain and Pain Management. All patients completed the PCS and TSK as part of the standard intake procedure. The second administration was completed on the day of their first appointment with the physician. Results:The interval period between the first and the second administration varied from 14 to 135 days. Both the PCS and TSK were found to be stable. Stability of the TSK further improved after omitting the reversed key items. The two subscales of the TSK and the subscale Magnification of the PCS were sufficiently stable, but the helplessness and rumination subscales of the PCS had lower stability. Conclusions: Both the PCS and TSK can be recommended for use as screening tool in clinical settings. It is advised to use the TSK without the reversed key items.