Presented at the 2012 AAPM Annual Meeting « Back

Chronic Pain and Personality: Importance of Neuroticism, Conscientiousness in an Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program

Sarah E. Hayes, Student, sarahhayes@nyu.edu¹, Miranda N. Bretz, BA¹, Cynthia O. Townsend, PhD LP ABPP¹, Elizabeth J. Luger, BS¹, W. Michael Hooten, MD, hooten.william@mayo.edu¹, (1) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Introduction: The relationships between chronic pain, personality, mood, pain coping and health behaviors (medication use, smoking) have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to characterize personality profiles of chronic pain patients who participated in an intensive (3-week) interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP) and identify relationships with worrisome behaviors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective research was approved by the IRB, and included 996 patients consecutively admitted to the Mayo Pain Rehabilitation Center from September 2008 to May 2011. Patient personality was assessed using the NEO Personality Inventory [1]. Pain severity, mood and functioning were assessed with the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Results: Over half (53%) of patients scored high/very high on Neuroticism. Compared to low/average Neuroticism, high/very high Neuroticism had greater depression and pain catastrophizing at pre-, post-, and 6-month follow-up (p≤0.001), and higher pain severity at admission (p≤0.001). Gloomy Pessimists (high Neuroticism, low Extraversion) and Overly Emotionals (high Neuroticism, high Extraversion) used more benzodiazepines (p = 0.026) and SSRIs (p = 0.003) than patients with low Neuroticism. Patients with low Agreeableness were less likely to complete programming (p=0.002). Patients with low Conscientiousness were more likely to smoke (p≤0.001). Personality was not associated with opioid or marijuana use. Conclusions: Personality profiles can help identify patients at risk for depression, poor pain coping, poor health behaviors and program attrition as well as guide treatment planning. References: 1) Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO five-factor inventory (NEO-FFI) manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

Funding: None