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

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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: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 13151

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valeria Donisi

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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

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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7 pages, 1401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bipolar Spectrum Symptoms in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Dimensional Psychometric Evaluation of 120 Patients

by Vittorio Schweiger, Giovanni Perini, Lidia Del Piccolo, Cinzia Perlini, Valeria Donisi, Leonardo Gottin, Alvise Martini, Katia Donadello, Giovanna Del Balzo, Valentina Moro, Erica Secchettin and Enrico Polati

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16395; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192416395 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1446

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and cognitive dysfunction. Depressive and manic symptoms are often reported in FMS patients’ history. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of bipolar spectrum symptoms (BSS) and to correlate these with quality of life (QoL) scores and antidepressant treatment. Methods: From October 2017 to July 2018, a battery of QoL questionnaires (FIQ, PSQI and SF-12) was administered to 120 FMS patients after a clinical examination. The MOODS-SR lifetime questionnaire was then remotely administered to the patients included in the study. Results: The presence of depressive and manic lifetime symptoms was found, in line with the results of the available literature. A correlation was found between the history of depressive symptoms and the severity of FIQ and SF-12 scores. Despite a low statistical strength, a trend toward a correlation between a history of manic symptoms and SNRI treatment was detected. Conclusions: The correlation between the MOOD—depressive domains and poor QoL is in line with the available literature. Further studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to elucidate the relationship between manic symptoms and SNRI treatment. 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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11 pages, 355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph181910233 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2645

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, 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

Open AccessArticle

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://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18157837 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2232

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 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

Open AccessArticle

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://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18063089 - 17 Mar 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3519

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 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)

Other

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

“INTEGRO INTEGRated Psychotherapeutic InterventiOn” on the Management of Chronic Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia: The Role of the Therapeutic Relationship

by Ilenia Pasini, Cinzia Perlini, Valeria Donisi, Anna Mason, Vittorio Schweiger, Erica Secchettin, Fabio Lugoboni, Gaetano Valenza and Lidia Del Piccolo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 3973; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20053973 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease characterized by a heterogeneous set of physical and psychological conditions. The chronic experience of disability felt by patients and the impact on quality of life (QoL) of the disease may worsen the cognitive reappraisal ability and contribute to maintaining an altered pain modulation mechanism. This paper presents the study protocol of an INTEGRated psychotherapeutic interventiOn on the management of chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia (INTEGRO). The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of an integrated psychotherapeutic intervention focused on pain management on QoL and pain perception, in a pilot sample of 45 FM patients with idiopathic chronic pain. The contribution of perceived therapeutic relationship (alliance) and physiological attunement, in both the patient and therapist, will be considered as possible mediators of intervention efficacy. Attachment dimensions, traumatic experiences, difficulties in emotion regulation, mindfulness attitude and psychophysiological profile will also be considered as covariates. The objectives are to evaluate longitudinally if patients will experience an increase in QoL perception (primary endpoint), pain-managing self-efficacy and emotion-regulation abilities as well as a reduction in pain intensity (secondary endpoints), considering the mediating role of perceived therapeutic alliance and physiological attunement in both the patient and therapist. 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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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Chronic Neurological and Physical Pain, Diagnostic Struggles, and Psychological Factors among Patients with Tick-Borne Diseases
Authors: Sarah Maxwell 1; Connie L. McNeely 2; Chris Brooks 3; Kip Thomas 4
Affiliation: 1. Univ Texas Dallas 2. George Mason University 3. Boston University School of Medicine, Laboratory for Human Neurobiology 4. Boston University School of Medicine, Laboratory for Human Neurobiology

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

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