Biopsychosocial correlates of adjustment to pain among people with multiple sclerosis

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which pain-related beliefs and coping strategies predicted measures of adjustment to pain among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), over and above that accomplished by demographic and clinical variables. Methods: Participants were a community-based sample of people with chronic MS-related pain (N = 105) who completed postal surveys and standardized interviews that included measures of demographic and MS-related variables, typical pain intensity, psychologic functioning, pain interference, pain beliefs, and coping strategies. Results: Pain-specific beliefs and coping strategies were associated with and explained a significant proportion of the variance in adjustment to pain (24% to 34%) among people with MS, over and above that accomplished by demographic and disease-related variables and pain intensity. Compatible with previous studies, greater endorsement of pain constancy and catastrophizing were significant predictors of poorer adjustment, whereas perceived ability to decrease pain and increasing behavioral activities in response to pain were related to positive adaptation. Discussion: These findings provide support for the premise that psychosocial factors remain central in disability-related pain and suggest the possibility that interventions targeting these variables would reduce the negative impact of pain among people with MS.