Relationship between the perceived social support and catastrophization in individuals with chronic knee pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Catastrophization and social support influence health outcomes in people with chronic pain. However, there is still no consensus regarding the relationship between these factors, and the information available in what relates to chronic pain in the knee joint is even scarcer. The objective of this study was to describe and understand the relationship between the perceived social support and pain catastrophization in adults with chronic knee pain. METHODS: Sociodemographic data were collected, and the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory and Pain Catastrophizing Scale were completed by the participants. The sample included 28 participants attending daycare institutions in Aveiro, Braga and Leiria districts (Portugal). RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the participants presented clinically significant catastrophization, and 64.3% reported high perceived social support. There is a direct relationship between high catastrophization and frequent solicitations and distraction responses. Conversely, an inverse association between high catastrophization levels and infrequent negative responses was observed in the collected sample. CONCLUSION: Useful social support contributes to a maladaptive response to pain by increasing catastrophization levels, and the catastrophic response may be a way to ask for support. There is a direct association between the perceived social support and the catastrophization of chronic knee pain in the participants. However, the association between these variables was Relationship between the perceived social support and catastrophization in individuals with chronic knee pain Relação entre suporte social percebido e catastrofização em indivíduos com dor crônica do joelho

Catastrophic thinking and functional disability in Primary Health Care chronic pain patients

“…The psychological suffering resulting from the recurrence of negative thoughts, in addition to the amplification of pain perception, can have repercussions on the prognosis of patients with CMP, reducing their quality of life and increasing pain levels. Catastrophizing individuals usually try to avoid experiences and present excessive worries, as well as significant mood impairment, avoiding situations that cause psychological discomfort 11,26,27 . Similar to the present results, a contemporary study 28 which tested the associations between the subcomponents of catastrophizing and pain-related disability evidenced that helplessness, magnification, and rumination are associated with pain interfering on daily activities, showing that the evaluation of cognitive aspects may play an important role in populations with CP.…”