Assessment Of Psychological Factors Associated With Chronic Pain Patients

Abstract

This study assessed psychological factors associated with chronic pain patients at Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional survey where 195 patients (118 males and 77 females) were selected for the study through a simple random sampling method. Their ages ranged from 17-64 years with the mean of (28). Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y-1 and Big Five Inventory (BFI) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment correlation coefficient to establish the relationship between personality and pain and independent ttest to test the differences between the groups. The results showed a significant difference in depression between male and female patients experiencing pain (t df(193) = 2.37; p < .05). No significant difference was however observed between medical and surgical patients on anxiety (t df(193)=-.42, p> .05). Also, there was a significant negative relationship between Open personality trait and pain (r df(143) =-.16, p < .05). Based on these findings, it was recommended that Psychologists should be included in the treatment team for the effective management of chronic pain and that further research in the study area should be conducted using larger sample.