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Psychological Distress and Psychological Factors in the Multidisciplinary Management of Patients with Chronic Pain

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 13547

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valeria Donisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
2. Clinical Psychology Unit – Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata University Hospital, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
Interests: psychological interventions for patients with chronic diseases and chronic pain; quality-and accessibility of mental health care
Dr. Cinzia Perlini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Section of Clinical Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
2. Clinical Psychology Unit – Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata University Hospital, P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
Interests: psychological interventions for patients with medical conditions; psychosocial and cognitive remediation of psychiatric diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to a bio–psycho–social care approach, the experience of chronic pain represents a complex phenomenon in which biological, psychological, and social factors interact. Psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety disorders, is often associated with chronic pain conditions that negatively contribute to disability and quality of life. Despite not being completely understood, several psychological and relational factors have been increasingly recognized as influencing the development and maintenance of disabling chronic pain, pain management, as well as treatment outcomes. Therefore, the assessment and management of chronic pain conditions should be undertaken through a multidisciplinary approach combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, including psychological ones.

This Special Issue aims at collecting high-quality, timely research papers on psychological distress and psychological factors in individuals suffering from chronic pain, with a specific focus on chronic primary pain (chronic headache and orofacial pain, chronic visceral pain, chronic muskoloskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, and complex regional pain syndrome) and chronic pain after neurological diseases.

Potential contributions for this Special Issue may focus on the following topics:

  • psychological distress, psychological and relational factors characterizing patients with chronic pain, and/or their role in: genesis and maintenance of chronic pain and disability; patient’s compliance with therapeutic treatments; treatment outcomes; 
  • psychological interventions for chronic pain or multidisciplinary care models dedicated at integrating physical, rehabilitative, and psychological approaches;
  • the translation of psychological assessment and interventions into clinical practice, exploring barriers and facilitators to their implementation, their cost-effectiveness, and patients’ experiences.
Submission of research studies adopting a multidisciplinary perspective is highly encouraged.

In light of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, papers specifically addressing the possible psychological impact of Covid-19 on the experience of patients with chronic pain are also welcome.

We encourage authors to submit original research articles applying different study designs and methodologies, such as (but not limited to) cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, innovative and informative case studies, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies are welcome.

Dr. Valeria Donisi
Dr. Cinzia Perlini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic primary pain
  • neurological disease, psychological distress
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • coping strategies
  • psychological flexibility
  • pain catastrophizing
  • psychological treatments

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 355 KiB  
Article
Pain, Sleep, and Health-Related Quality of Life after Multidisciplinary Intervention for Chronic Pain
by Hafdís Skúladóttir, Herdis Sveinsdottir, Janean E. Holden, Thóra Jenný Gunnarsdóttir, Sigridur Halldorsdottir and Amalia Björnsdottir
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910233 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3720
Abstract
Multidisciplinary pain-management programs have the potential to decrease pain intensity, improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and increase sleep quality. In this longitudinal prospective cohort study, the aim was to investigate the long-term effects of multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation interventions in Iceland. More precisely, [...] Read more.
Multidisciplinary pain-management programs have the potential to decrease pain intensity, improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and increase sleep quality. In this longitudinal prospective cohort study, the aim was to investigate the long-term effects of multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation interventions in Iceland. More precisely, we (a) explored and described how individuals with chronic pain evaluated their pain severity, sleep, and HRQOL at pre-treatment and at one-year follow-up and (b) examined what predicted the participants’ one-year follow-up HRQOL. Seventy-nine patients aged 20–68 years, most of whom were women (85%), responded. The participants scored their pain lower at one-year follow-up (p < 0.001). According to their response, most of them had disrupted sleep, mainly because of pain. One year after the treatment, more participants slept through the night (p = 0.004), and their HRQOL increased. Higher pre-treatment mental component summary (MCS) scores and having pursued higher education predicted higher MCS scores at one-year follow-up, and higher pre-treatment physical component summary (PCS) scores predicted higher PCS scores at one-year follow-up. Sleep problems, being a woman, and having children younger than 18 years of age predicted lower MCS scores at one-year follow-up. These findings are suggestive that patients should be examined with respect to their mental status, and it could be beneficial if they received some professional support after completing the intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Distress and Psychological Factors in the Multidisciplinary Management of Patients with Chronic Pain)
10 pages, 965 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in Depression and Sex Hormones among Patients Receiving Long-Term Opioid Treatment for Chronic Noncancer Pain in Taiwan—A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
by Shung-Tai Ho, Tso-Chou Lin, Chun-Chang Yeh, Kuang-I Cheng, Wei-Zen Sun, Chun-Sung Sung, Yeong-Ray Wen, Yi-Jer Hsieh, Po-Kai Wang, Yen-Chin Liu and Yu-Chuan Tsai
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 7837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157837 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2882
Abstract
Background: Long-term use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain is associated with sex hormone disturbances. The interferences with sex hormones, sexual function, and depression were investigated in patients with chronic noncancer pain. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted on 170 officially registered [...] Read more.
Background: Long-term use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain is associated with sex hormone disturbances. The interferences with sex hormones, sexual function, and depression were investigated in patients with chronic noncancer pain. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted on 170 officially registered outpatients receiving long-term opioid treatment in nine medical centers in Taiwan between October 2018 and July 2019. Serum sex hormone levels were examined after the collection of self-administered questionnaires containing the Taiwanese version of the Brief Pain Inventory, depressive status, and sexual function interference. Results: Among 117 (68.8%) questionnaire responses from 170 enrolled outpatients, 38 women and 62 men completed the sex hormone tests, among whom only 23 (23%) had previously received blood hormone tests. Low serum total testosterone levels were detected in 34 (89.5%) women (<30 ng/dL) and 31 (50%) men (<300 ng/dL). Over 60% of women and men reported reduced sexual desire and function despite a nearly 50% reduction in pain intensity and daily function interference over the previous week after opioid treatment. Women generally had higher risks of a depression diagnosis (p = 0.034) and severe depressive symptoms (p = 0.003) and nonsignificantly lower opioid treatment duration (median 81 vs. 120 months) and morphine milligram equivalent (median 134 vs. 165 mg/day) compared with men. Conclusions: This survey demonstrated the high prevalence of depression diagnosis, low sex hormone levels, and reduced sexual function among Taiwanese patients with chronic noncancer pain receiving prolonged opioid therapy. Regular hypogonadal screenings are recommended for further management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Distress and Psychological Factors in the Multidisciplinary Management of Patients with Chronic Pain)
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14 pages, 390 KiB  
Article
Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Features in Post-Stroke Patients with Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Neuro-Rehabilitation Context of Care
by Marialuisa Gandolfi, Valeria Donisi, Simone Battista, Alessandro Picelli, Nicola Valè, Lidia Del Piccolo and Nicola Smania
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3089; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063089 - 17 Mar 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5374
Abstract
This study aims at exploring disability, health-related quality of life (HrQoL), psychological distress, and psychological features in post-stroke patients with chronic pain. An observational cross-sectional study involving 50 post-stroke patients (25 with chronic pain and 25 without pain) was conducted. The primary outcome [...] Read more.
This study aims at exploring disability, health-related quality of life (HrQoL), psychological distress, and psychological features in post-stroke patients with chronic pain. An observational cross-sectional study involving 50 post-stroke patients (25 with chronic pain and 25 without pain) was conducted. The primary outcome was the self-reported level of disability and HrQoL which were both assessed through the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0. Both psychological distress and specific psychological features (i.e., self-efficacy, coping strategies, psychological flexibility, perceived social support) were examined. Post-stroke patients with chronic pain reported statistically significant higher levels of disability and worse HrQoL, higher psychological distress and inflexibility, as well as a lower level of self-efficacy and problem-oriented coping strategies than patients without pain (p < 0.001). Finally, correlation analysis in the group of stroke survivors with pain showed that higher levels of disability were significantly related to higher psychological distress. This study confirms the negative influence of chronic pain on disability and HrQoL in post-stroke patients and presents preliminary insights on the association between chronic pain, disability, HrQoL, psychosocial distress, and the patient’s approach in dealing with personal difficulties and emotions. These findings carry further implications for multidisciplinary management of post-stroke patients with chronic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Distress and Psychological Factors in the Multidisciplinary Management of Patients with Chronic Pain)
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