Anxiety and coping in patients with chronic work-related muscular pain and patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

The aims of this study were: (1) to compare two groups of patients with chronic pain conditions (work-related muscular pain, mainly low back pain, and fibromyalgia) in general coping and pain-specific coping; (2) to examine the relationship between general and pain-specific coping and, (3) to examine the influence of state-trait anxiety on general and pain-specific coping. The sample included 80 individuals (range = 19–70 years; mean = 47; SD = 9.9), who were patients at two pain management clinics for examination of their physical and psychosocial health conditions and consideration on disability pension. The patients were asked to respond to the Strategies to Handle Stress Questionnaire, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Patients with fibromyalgia scored significantly higher on T-anxiety and adopted ‘problem-solving’ ( p<0.01) and ‘catharsis’ ( p<0.05) less often and ‘religion’ more often ( p<0.01) than patients with work-related muscular pain in coping with stressful situations in general. No differences were revealed in pain-related coping between the groups. T-anxiety was positively correlated to pain-related “catastrophizing” ( p<0.001) and negatively to abilities to control and reduce pain ( p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). The correlation between general and pain-specific coping was weak to moderate. In conclusion, patients with fibromyalgia scored significantly higher on trait-anxiety and seem to interpret stressful situations as more threatening than patients with work-related muscular pain. Anxiety seems to be of central importance for coping with chronic pain. Anxiety-prone patients with fibromyalgia might benefit from psychological support in the process of coping with pain.