Abstract
A heterogeneous sample of chronic pain patients was first classified into one of three previously identified subgroups (i.e., dysfunctional, interpersonally distressed, adaptive) using the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (R. D. Kerns, D. C. Turk, & T. E. Rudy, 1985). Multiple differences at the domain and facet levels of the Revised NEO PI-R Personality Inventory (P. T. Costa, Jr. & R. R. McCrae, 1992) were found among the three subgroups of patients. In particular, the interpersonally distressed patients showed a greater degree of Neuroticism and were more introverted. Further analyses revealed that this group had tendencies toward feeling more vulnerable, being less trustful, and experiencing less positive emotions than the other groups. The dysfunctional group of patients was notable in terms of their low activity level and lower Openness (to new experience). Adaptive copers reported being emotionally stable, having a moderate degree of Extraversion, and being open to a wider variety of experiences. These differences may act as mediating influences in differing patient responsiveness to pain management programs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bradley, L. A., Prokop, C. K., Margolis, R., & Gentry, W.D. (1978). Multivariate analyses of the MMPI profiles of low back pain patients. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1 ,253–272.
Carmody, T. P. (2001). Psychosocial subgroups, coping, and chronic low-back pain. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 8 ,137–148.
Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1985). Hypochondriasis, neuroticism, and aging: When are somatic complaints unfounded? American Psychologist, 40 ,19–28.
Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R.R. (1987). Neuroticism, somatic complaints, and disease: Is the bark worse than the bite? Journal of Personality, 55,299–316.
Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1988). Personality in adulthood: Asix-year longitudinal study of self-reports and spouse ratings on the NEO Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54 ,853–863.
Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory(NEOPI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory(NEOFF) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Costa, P. T., Jr., McCrae, R. R., & Dye, D.A. (1991). Facet scales for Agreeableness and Conscientiousness: A revision of the NEO Personality Inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 12 ,887–898.
Deardorff, W. W., Chino, A. F., & Scott, D. W. (1993). Characteristics of chronic pain patients: Factor analysis of the MMPI-2. Pain, 54 ,153–158.
Gatchel, R. J. (2000).Howpractitioners should evaluate personality to help manage patients with chronic pain. In R. J. Gatchel and J.N.Weisberg (Eds.),Personality characteristics of patients with pain (pp. 89–107). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Gatchel, R. J., Noe, C. E., Pulliam, C., Robbins, H., Deschner, M., & Gajraj, N. M., et al. (2002). A preliminary study of Multidimensional Pain Inventory profile differences in predicting treatment outcome in a heterogeneous cohort of patients with chronic pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 18 ,139–143.
Hellström, C., & Jansson, B. (2001). Psychological distress and adaptation to chronic pain: Symptomatology in dysfunctional, interpersonally distressed, and adaptive copers. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain, 9 ,51–67.
Kerns, R.D., & Jacob, M.C. (1992). Assessment of the psychosocial context in the experience of pain. In D.C. Turk and R. Melzack (Eds.), Handbook of pain assessment (pp. 235–253). New York: Guilford.
Kerns, R. D., Turk, D. C., & Rudy, T. E. (1985). The West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (WHYMPI). Pain, 23 ,345–356.
Love, A. W., & Peck, C. L. (1987). The MMPI and psychological factors in chronic low back pain: A review. Pain, 28 ,1–12.
McCracken, L. M., Spertus, I. L., Janeck, A. S., Sinclair, D., & Wetzel, F. T. (1999). Behavioral dimensions of adjustment in persons with chronic pain: Pain-related anxiety and acceptance. Pain, 80 ,283–289.
Rudy, T. E. (1989). Multiaxial assessment of pain: Computer program and user's manual (Version 2.1). Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh.
Strategier, L. D., Chwalisz, K., Altmaier, E. M., Russell, D. W., & Lehmann, T. H. (1997). Multidimensional assessment of chronic low back pain: Predicting treatment outcomes. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 4 ,91–110.
Turk, D. C., Okifuji, A., Sinclair, J. D., & Starz, T. W. (1998). Differential responses of psychosocial subgroups of fibromyalgia syndrome patients to an interdisciplinary treatment. Arthritis Care and Research, 11 ,397–404.
Turk, D. C., & Rudy, T. E. (1987). Towards a comprehensive assessment of chronic pain patients. Behavior Research and Therapy, 25 ,237–249.
Turk, D. C., & Rudy, T. E. (1988). Toward an empirically derived taxonomy of chronic pain patients: Integration of psychological assessment data. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56 ,233–238.
Turk, D. C., & Rudy, T. E. (1990). The robustness of an empirically derived taxonomy of chronic pain patients. Pain, 43 ,27–35.
Vendrig, A. A., de Mey, H. R., Derksen, J. L., & van Akkerveeken, P. F. (1998). Assessment of chronic back pain patient characteristics using factor analysis of the MMPI-2: Which dimensions are actually assessed? Pain, 76 ,179–188.
Verhaak, P. F. M., Kerssens, J. J., Bensing, J. M., Sorbi, M. J., Peters, M. L., & Kruise, D. A. (2000). Medical help-seeking by different types of chronic pain patients. Psychology and Health, 15, 771–786.
Wade, J. B., Dougherty, L. M., Hart, R. P., & Cook, D. B. (1992). Patterns of normal personality structure among chronic pain patients. Pain, 48 ,37–43.
Wade, J. B., & Price, D. D. (2000). Nonpathological factors in chronic pain: Implications for assessment and treatment. In R. J. Gatchel and J. N. Weisberg (Eds.), Personality characteristics of patients with pain (pp. 89–107). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Weisberg, J. N., & Keefe, F. J. (1999). Personality, individual differences, and psychopathology in chronic pain. In R. J. Gatchel and D. C. Turk (Eds.), Psychosocial factors in pain: Critical perspectives (pp. 56–73). New York: Guilford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nitch, S.R., Boone, K.B. Normal Personality Correlates of Chronic Pain Subgroups. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 11, 203–209 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCS.0000037614.70671.29
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCS.0000037614.70671.29