Chronic pain: relationship with prefrontal symptoms and perceived stress

Abstract

This paper studies the presence of prefrontal symptoms -in the form of problems to manage cognition, emotions and behavior- and perceived stress in a sample of people suffering from chronic pain. A total of 90 participants with a diagnosis of chronic pain aged between 27 and 81 years (mean 54.2, 13.4 S.D.) were analyzed together with sociodemographic and clinical variables, and the results in Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), to assess pain intensity and interference, Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Significant correlations between prefrontal symptoms and intensity (r = 0.32) and interference (r = 0.53) of pain were found, and between stress and pain interference in mood (r = 0, 36) too. A preliminary structural equation is proposed to explain the effect. Data suggest that the comprehensive treatment of chronic pain should include psychological interventions focused on coping with stress and cognitive optimization of prefrontal skills.