This correlational study investigated the relationship between changes in the psychosocial scales of the MPI Screener Patient Report Card (Clark, 1996) with changes in depression and anxiety with a sample of chronic pain patients who completed a 4-week outpatient interdisciplinary treatment program located in a large regional medical center. Race, gender, and primary pain diagnosis were additional predictors. Data analyzed came from an existing patient outcome database (N = 203). Five research assumptions were examined using ten separate (five pre and five post-treatment) hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Statistical significance was found in pre and post-treatment analyses with predictors BDI-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) and BAI (Beck & Steer, 1993) on criterions Pain Interference, Emotional Distress, and Life Control, and Total Function.

The purposes of the study were to examine the psychosocial variables of hostility and social support, and their independent relationships with resting physiological levels and chronic pain symptoms, and to examine the independent relationships of chronic pain chronicity and social support with hostility.

Chronic pain sufferers are frequently misunderstood and stigmatised. The aim of this investigation was to provide a description of the lifewor1d of people with chronic low back pain, using the phenomenological method. Themes which emerged were that the persistent nature of chronic pain makes it particularly difficult to endure, arousing a profound fear of the future. It causes a disruption in the relationship between the person and the body, in which the person is forced to function within the constraints of pain. Sufferers are unable to fulfil social roles as expected and are forced to revise their goals and activities. The distress of their experience is mediated by the ability to make sense of their condition, finding meaning in the pain itself. The study highlights the value of the phenomenological method in health psychology. Recommendations are made which may be of benefit to people with chronic pain and their families. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Psychology)

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the potential relationships that exist between anger expression, as measured by several MMPI-2 scales, and chronic pain.

Objective: Chronic pain is a common condition worldwide that poses significant impact to society in terms of its health and economic costs. It has been found to be related to a number of emotional and cognitive factors that are amenable to psychological treatments. Traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain has become the gold standard of psychological treatment with reported efficacy. However, recent meta-analyses have found its effect size to be only modest at most. Moreover, its specific mechanisms of action are not well elucidated. With recent advances in neuroscience on possible neurocognitive processes underlying chronic pain, alternative treatment models targeting these specific neurocognitive processes are worth exploring. The present study tested the effectiveness of the Four-step Mindfulness-based Therapy (FSMT) for chronic pain in a randomized-controlled trial. The FSMT was chosen because of its explicit emphasis on altering neurocognitive processes that appear to be highly relevant in treating chronic pain. Method: Ninety-nine chronic pain patients in a hospital cluster-based outpatient pain clinic were randomly allocated to either the FSMT treatment or wait-list control group. The FSMT was modified for use with chronic pain and incorporated mindfulness exercises, such as mindful breathing and mindful meditation. Treatment consisted of eight weekly two-hour group sessions conducted by a clinical psychologist experienced in the implementation of the FSMT protocol. Assessment took place at baseline and post-treatment for both the FSMT and wait-list control. For the FSMT, assessment also took place at mid-group and 3-month follow-up. Results: Findings showed that the FSMT produced superior outcomes in terms of activity interference (primary endpoint), pain unpleasantness, and depression when compared to the wait-list control group or over time. Improvements were also found in the process measures of pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance. All treatment effects were maintained at follow-up. Further, the effects have been shown to be clinically significant and reliable above and beyond measurement errors. Mediational analyses revealed that pain catastrophizing and pain acceptance mediated the effects of FSMT on the outcomes of activity interference and depression; pain catastrophizing also mediated the effect of FSMT on the outcome of pain unpleasantness. Conclusions: The present study was the first to establish statistical and clinical evidence of the FSMT for chronic pain. It also revealed possible processes and mechanisms that might have brought about the changes in outcome, namely reduction in pain catastrophizing and improvement in pain acceptance. How the FSMT led to the outcome changes via these two processes was discussed and enriched by neurocognitive perspectives. Future studies should seek to further compare the FSMT with other active psychological treatments for chronic pain and collect neuroimaging data to further illustrate the neurocognitive processes involved. / Wong, Chi Ming. / "October 2009." / Adviser: Freedom Leung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-175). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Chronic pain sufferers are frequently misunderstood and stigmatised. The aim of this investigation was to provide a description of the lifewor1d of people with chronic low back pain, using the phenomenological method. Themes which emerged were that the persistent nature of chronic pain makes it particularly difficult to endure, arousing a profound fear of the future. It causes a disruption in the relationship between the person and the body, in which the person is forced to function within the constraints of pain. Sufferers are unable to fulfil social roles as expected and are forced to revise their goals and activities. The distress of their experience is mediated by the ability to make sense of their condition, finding meaning in the pain itself. The study highlights the value of the phenomenological method in health psychology. Recommendations are made which may be of benefit to people with chronic pain and their families. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Psychology)

The present study investigated the influence of a brief, intensive biofeedback-assisted imagery training regimen on psychological, physiological and neuroendocrinological measures of pain and stress in injury related chronic pain patients. The subjects were 36 patients (myelography examcandidates) who were assigned to the imagery or wait-list control group by order of referral presentation and to formulate equivalent groups.

Abstract not available

People expenencmg chronic pain encounter increases m needs and endure the consequences of failure to satisfy needs. In much of the management of people with chronic pain, chronic pain is considered an abstract phenomenon with little attention given to the human experience. Numerous literature focus on a mechanistic reductionistic approach in management of chronic pain. Most literature is written by medical practitioners, nurses and psychologists from a health-care oriented methodology, whereas minimal research literature was contributed from a pastoral care and counselling perspective. This dissertation explores the needs and feelings of people with chronic pain to identify their needs at the various developmental stages of their pain experience, and within their relevant ecosystems, in order to develop a pastoral response. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

People expenencmg chronic pain encounter increases m needs and endure the consequences of failure to satisfy needs. In much of the management of people with chronic pain, chronic pain is considered an abstract phenomenon with little attention given to the human experience. Numerous literature focus on a mechanistic reductionistic approach in management of chronic pain. Most literature is written by medical practitioners, nurses and psychologists from a health-care oriented methodology, whereas minimal research literature was contributed from a pastoral care and counselling perspective. This dissertation explores the needs and feelings of people with chronic pain to identify their needs at the various developmental stages of their pain experience, and within their relevant ecosystems, in order to develop a pastoral response. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)