Rehabilitation psychology
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Rehabilitation psychology · Nov 2013
Pain-related fear of movement and catastrophizing in whiplash-associated disorders.
The main aim of this study was to test whether pain-related fear of movement and catastrophizing were predictors of pain intensity and disability 6 months after a whiplash injury. The mediator role of fear of movement was also explored. A sample of 147 whiplash patients with neck pain for less than 3 months participated in the first assessment, and 123 of them were interviewed again at a 6-month follow-up. Multiple regression analyses were performed. ⋯ These findings suggest that interventions designed to reduce the impact of injury severity and pain-related fear of movement after a motor vehicle accident may be relevant for preventing long-lasting symptoms.
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Rehabilitation psychology · Nov 2013
Observational StudyManaging lapses in cardiac rehabilitation exercise therapy: examination of the problem-solving process.
Poor adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise therapy is an ongoing problem. Problem-solving (PS) is an identified cognitive-behavioral strategy to promote exercise adherence. However, PS process has not been examined, and how PS promotes adherence is not known. Using Social Cognitive Theory and Ewart's Social Problem-Solving Model as guiding frameworks, we examined proposed theoretical links between persistence, an indicator of adherence, and (a) PS effectiveness and (b) self-regulatory efficacy. Based on the Model of Social Problem-Solving, 2 distinct components of the PS process (problem-solving and solution implementation), were examined. ⋯ Proposed theoretical relationships were supported, and both PS effectiveness and self-regulatory efficacy accounted for a greater amount of the variance in anticipated persistence than either alone. Future efforts to improve adherence to rehabilitative exercise could include the use of PS. The 2 distinct components of the PS process may be important for successful adjustment to problems.
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Chronic pain is a known risk factor for suicide. To date, however, few studies of people with chronic pain have tested specific predictions about suicidal ideation that are derived from theory. The interpersonal theory of suicide proposes that the psychological constructs of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are unique and independent precursors to suicidal ideation. We tested this hypothesis in a clinical sample of patients with chronic pain. ⋯ These findings suggest that the interpersonal theory is relevant to understanding elevated rates of suicidal ideation among people with chronic pain, and may have broader applicability to other populations with chronic illness or disability.
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Rehabilitation psychology · Feb 2013
Acceptance of pain in neurological disorders: associations with functioning and psychosocial well-being.
Chronic pain acceptance has been shown to be related to positive adjustment to chronic pain in patients presenting with pain as a primary problem. However, the role of pain acceptance in adjustment to chronic pain secondary to a neurological disorder that is often associated with physical disability has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to examine whether two domains of chronic pain acceptance--activity engagement and pain willingness--predict adjustment to pain, controlling for pain intensity and key demographic and clinical variables in individuals with muscular dystrophy (MD), multiple sclerosis (MS), post-polio syndrome (PPS), or spinal cord injury (SCI). ⋯ Findings correspond with the broader pain acceptance literature, although activity engagement appears to be a more robust predictor of adjustment than does pain willingness. This research supports the need for future studies to determine the extent to which treatments that increase acceptance result in positive outcomes in persons with chronic pain secondary to neurological disorders.
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Rehabilitation psychology · Nov 2012
Attachment style is associated with perceived spouse responses and pain-related outcomes.
Attachment theory can provide a heuristic model for examining factors that may influence the relationship of social context to adjustment in chronic pain. This study examined the associations of attachment style with self-reported pain behavior, pain intensity, disability, depression, and perceived spouse responses to pain behavior. We also examined whether attachment style moderates associations between perceived spouse responses and self-reported pain behavior and depressive symptoms, as well as perceived spouse responses as a mediator of these associations. ⋯ Findings suggest that attachment style is associated with pain-related outcomes and perceptions of spouse responses. The hypothesized moderation effects for attachment were not found; however, mediation analyses showed that perceived spouse responses may partially explain associations between attachment and adjustment to pain. Future research is needed to clarify how attachment style and the social environment affect the pain experience.