The Pain Catastrophizing Scale: Development and validation.

In Study 1, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) was administered to 425 undergraduates. Analyses yielded a three component solution comprising (a) rumination, (b) magnification, and (c) helplessness. In Study 2, 30 undergraduate participants were classified as catastrophizers (n = 15) or noncatastrophizers (n = 15) on the basis of their PCS scores and participated in an cold pressor procedure. Catastrophizers reported significantly more negative pain-related thoughts, greater emotional distress, and greater pain intensity than noncatastrophizers. Study 3 examined the relation between PCS scores, negative pain-related thoughts, and distress in 28 individuals undergoing an aversive electrodiagnostic medical procedure. Catastrophizers reported more negative pain-related thoughts, more emotional distress, and more pain than noncatastrophizers. Study 4 examined the relation between the PCS and measures of depression, trait anxiety, negative affectivity, and fear of pain. Analyses revealed moderate correlations among these measures, but only the PCS contributed significant unique variance t o the prediction of pain intensity.

[1]  I. Jensen,et al.  Coping with long-term musculoskeletal pain and its consequences: is gender a factor? , 1994, Pain.

[2]  Norman S. Endler,et al.  Assessment of multidimensional coping: task, emotion, and avoidance strategies , 1994 .

[3]  L. McCracken,et al.  The pain anxiety symptoms scale: development and validation of a scale to measure fear of pain , 1992, Pain.

[4]  K. Hursey,et al.  Fear of Pain in Recurrent Headache Sufferers , 1992, Headache.

[5]  D. Haaga.  Catastrophizing, confounds, and depression: a comment on Sullivan and D'Eon (1990) , 1992, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[6]  Robert M. DiFazio,et al.  Sex, sex roles, and response styles for negative affect: Selectivity in a free recall task , 1991 .

[7]  M. Jensen,et al.  Coping with chronic pain: a critical review of the literature , 1991, Pain.

[8]  M. Sullivan,et al.  Relation between catastrophizing and depression in chronic pain patients. , 1990, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[9]  Francis J. Keefe,et al.  Coping with rheumatoid arthritis pain: catastrophizing as a maladaptive strategy , 1989, Pain.

[10]  D. Watson,et al.  Health complaints, stress, and distress: exploring the central role of negative affectivity. , 1989, Psychological review.

[11]  D. McNeil,et al.  Components of dental fear in adults? , 1989, Behaviour research and therapy.

[12]  D. Watson,et al.  Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. , 1988, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[13]  J. Nunley,et al.  Pain coping strategies in osteoarthritis patients. , 1987, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[14]  S. Nolen-Hoeksema,et al.  Sex Differences in Unipolar Depression: Evidence and Theory Background on the Affective Disorders , 1987 .

[15]  R. Moos,et al.  Coping, stress, and social resources among adults with unipolar depression. , 1984, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[16]  D. Watson,et al.  Negative affectivity: the disposition to experience aversive emotional states. , 1984, Psychological bulletin.

[17]  Francis J. Keefe,et al.  The use of coping strategies in chronic low back pain patients: Relationship to patient characteristics and current adjustment , 1983, Pain.

[18]  J. M. Brown,et al.  Cognitive activity and suggestions for analgesia in the reduction of reported pain. , 1981, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[19]  N. Spanos,et al.  The effects of hypnotic susceptibility, suggestions for analgesia, and the utilization of cognitive strategies on the reduction of pain. , 1979, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[20]  M. Lorr,et al.  Manual for the Profile of Mood States , 1971 .

[21]  C. Spielberger,et al.  Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory , 1970 .

[22]  A. Beck,et al.  An inventory for measuring depression. , 1961, Archives of general psychiatry.

[23]  L. Cronbach.  Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests , 1951 .