The relationship among PTSD symptoms, chronic pain acceptance, and disability

An examination of the structural link between post‐traumatic stress symptoms and chronic pain in the framework of fear‐avoidance models

“…In line with the results presented by Cho et al (2011) and Tsui et al (2011), hyperarousal symptoms have been shown to be associated with pain adjustment, although in the current study, this interaction was mediated by the variables included in the fearavoidance models (Asmundson and Taylor, 1996;Vlaeyen and Linton, 2000). Hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD involve increased physiological arousal representing high levels of anxiety; anxiety is not only an important feature of PTSD but is also known to influence the perception and experience of pain (Cho et al, 2011).…”

“…The association between PTSD and chronic pain syndromes is well supported. Although recent publications have investigated the interactions between specific PTSD symptom clusters and pain outcome (Clapp et al, 2008;Cho et al, 2011;Cyders et al, 2011;Tsui et al, 2011), the present study represents the first empirical evaluation of the relative contribution of PTSD dimensions (re-experiencing, avoidance, emotional numbing and hyperarousal) to the chronic pain experience within the theoretical framework of the fear-avoidance models (Asmundson and Taylor, 1996;Vlaeyen and Linton, 2000;Norton and Asmundson, 2004). In this regard, the main purpose of the study was to investigate, via structural equation modelling, how PTSD symptom clusters and the psychological variables considered in these models affected pain outcome (namely, pain intensity and disability).…”

“…Few studies have investigated whether specific PTSD symptoms are associated with chronic pain, and if so, which one. Tsui et al (2011) found that hyperarousal alone was predictive of pain intensity, disability and pain acceptance. The results obtained by Cho et al (2011) also indicated that hyperarousal symptoms, but not re-experiencing or avoidance, had significant direct effects on daily functioning.…”

“…Tsui et al. () found that hyperarousal alone was predictive of pain intensity, disability and pain acceptance. The results obtained by Cho et al.…”

Number and Type of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Domains Are Associated With Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Pain

“…Hyperarousal has been associated with pain intensity, disability, and pain acceptance among chronic pain outpatients. 10, 46 Emotional numbing and avoidance were associated with pain-related disability in homogenous samples of patients with chronic pain. 11, 23, 28 Finally, avoidance predicted pain-related disability, and re-experiencing predicted pain-related distress in women with orofacial pain.…”