J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Apr;34(2):197-203.

Gender Differences Associated with Pain Patterns and Psychological Variables in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Ilsanpaik Hospital, Korea. realranma@naver.com
  • 2Institute of Sports Rehabilitation, Inje University, Korea.
  • 3Rehabilitation Psychology, Ilsanpaik Hospital, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To investigate gender differences in pain patterns and psychological variables among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. METHOD: Thirty-five male and thirty-eight female patients who visited our outpatient clinic due to chronic musculoskeletal pain were evaluated using a questionnaire survey. Chronic musculoskeletal pain was defined as pain lasting longer than 6 months. Patients were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS), pain site, pain duration and frequency. Beck depression inventory, state-trait anxiety index, somatization scale of symptom checklist-revised, symptom interpretation questionnaire, and pain catastrophizing scale were checked for psychological variables. Correlations among each variable were evaluated statistically.
RESULTS
Female patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain recorded higher scores on number of pain site, pain catastrophizing scale, rumination, magnification and catastrophic attribution than male patients (p<0.05). In female patients, VAS was correlated significantly with depression, static anxiety, somatization, catastrophizing thought. rumination, magnification, helpless, and catastrophic attribution. Pain frequency was correlated significantly with somatization, catastrophizing thought, rumination, and helpless. Number of pain site was correlated with somatization, catastrophizing thought, magnification, and helpless. The correlation between pain patterns and psychological variables was also observed in male patients, but statistically less significant than female patients.
CONCLUSION
We found gender difference associated with pain patterns and psychological variables in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients. Consideration of psychological factors may be important for management in female patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Keyword

Chronic musculoskeletal pain; Gender difference; Psychological variables

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Anxiety
Catastrophization
Depression
Female
Humans
Male
Musculoskeletal Pain
Surveys and Questionnaires
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