Catastrophizing and chronic pain: a modern view on the problem

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OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between pain catastrophizing and chronic pain syndrome, as well as to investigate the effect of pain chronization on catastrophizing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Searching for literature data was performed in the PubMed, eLibrary and ScienceDirect databases until January 2022. We reviewed the abstracts and full-text articles, identified original articles meeting inclusion criteria. No meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

We found the studies with good evidence base. Their results demonstrate positive correlation between pain catastrophizing and chronic pain syndrome.

CONCLUSION

This review provides information on importance of such a psychosocial factor as catastrophizing in chronic pain including as a mediator of transformation of acute pain into chronic one.

Keywords:

pain catastrophizing

chronic pain

pain transformation

systematic review

neuropathic pain

lower back pain

Authors:

Lovchev I.M.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

Shmidt D.A.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

Sorokina D.A.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

Churyukanov M.V.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University);
Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery

Received:

25.04.2022

Accepted:

03.10.2022

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