Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries

The psychological predictors of pain and disability were examined in a sample of people who sustained whiplash injuries during rear-end motor vehicle accidents. Sixty-five patients referred to a specialty pain clinic with a diagnosis of whiplash injury completed measures of depression, anxiety, cata...

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Main Authors: Michael JL Sullivan, William Stanish, Maureen E Sullivan, Dean Tripp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2002-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2002/176378
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author Michael JL Sullivan
William Stanish
Maureen E Sullivan
Dean Tripp
author_facet Michael JL Sullivan
William Stanish
Maureen E Sullivan
Dean Tripp
author_sort Michael JL Sullivan
collection DOAJ
description The psychological predictors of pain and disability were examined in a sample of people who sustained whiplash injuries during rear-end motor vehicle accidents. Sixty-five patients referred to a specialty pain clinic with a diagnosis of whiplash injury completed measures of depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, pain and perceived disability. Regression analysis revealed that psychological variables accounted for 18% of the variance in pain ratings. The magnification subscale of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale was the only variable that contributed significant, unique variance to the prediction of pain. Psychological variables accounted for 37% of the variance in perceived disability scores. In the latter analysis, however, none of the independent variables contributed significant, unique variance to the prediction of perceived disability. Psychological variables accounted for significant variance in disability ratings, even when controlling for pain intensity. Discussion focuses on the need to draw clearer distinctions between determinants of pain and disability, and directions for interventions aimed at minimizing disability following whiplash injury are suggested.
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spelling doaj-art-4a0c9dee74be41d28f5cae024e554caa2025-08-20T03:34:18ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67652002-01-0172687410.1155/2002/176378Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash InjuriesMichael JL Sullivan0William Stanish1Maureen E Sullivan2Dean Tripp3Départment de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Dalhousie University, CanadaFenwick Psychological and Health Consultants, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaThe psychological predictors of pain and disability were examined in a sample of people who sustained whiplash injuries during rear-end motor vehicle accidents. Sixty-five patients referred to a specialty pain clinic with a diagnosis of whiplash injury completed measures of depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, pain and perceived disability. Regression analysis revealed that psychological variables accounted for 18% of the variance in pain ratings. The magnification subscale of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale was the only variable that contributed significant, unique variance to the prediction of pain. Psychological variables accounted for 37% of the variance in perceived disability scores. In the latter analysis, however, none of the independent variables contributed significant, unique variance to the prediction of perceived disability. Psychological variables accounted for significant variance in disability ratings, even when controlling for pain intensity. Discussion focuses on the need to draw clearer distinctions between determinants of pain and disability, and directions for interventions aimed at minimizing disability following whiplash injury are suggested.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2002/176378
spellingShingle Michael JL Sullivan
William Stanish
Maureen E Sullivan
Dean Tripp
Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
Pain Research and Management
title Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
title_full Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
title_fullStr Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
title_full_unstemmed Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
title_short Differential Predictors of Pain and Disability in Patients with Whiplash Injuries
title_sort differential predictors of pain and disability in patients with whiplash injuries
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2002/176378
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