Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Posttraumatic Stress and Chronic Pain

Résumé fourni par la source

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can co-occur with chronic pain, and this co-occurrence has been linked to negative outcomes such as increased severity of either condition over time. Although theoretical literature has focused on the factors that contribute to this co-occurrence, limited empirical research has examined factors that predict the presence of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and chronic pain together. Thus, the purpose of this correlational study was to expand our understanding in this area by exploring risk (i.e., avoidance coping and anxiety sensitivity) and protective factors (i.e., social support, self-efficacy, and self-compassion) of both PTS and chronic pain while accounting for the impacts of each of these outcomes on the other. Participants were recruited from the general adult U.S population through convenience sampling methods to complete an online survey. The final sample included 98 adults with a history of traumatic events. The results of a linear regression analysis indicated that, after controlling for chronic pain, avoidance coping and anxiety sensitivity were positively, and self-compassion was negatively related to PTS. On the other hand, none of the risk or protective factors significantly predicted chronic pain, after adjusting for the effect of PTS on chronic pain. Together these findings highlight the importance of avoidance coping, anxiety sensitivity, and self-compassion within treatment for PTS related symptoms and highlight the importance of targeting trauma-related symptoms for individuals who may be experiencing both PTS and chronic pain.

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