Abstract
The aim of this study was to create an Italian version of the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS-I) and evaluate its psychometric properties in a sample with chronic low back pain. The PCS was culturally adapted in accordance with international standards. The psychometric testing included factor analysis, reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest repeatability (intraclass coefficient correlations), and concurrent validity by comparing the PCS-I with a numerical rating scale (NRS), the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) (Pearson's correlation). It took 4 months to develop an agreed version of the PCS-I, which was satisfactorily administered to 180 subjects with chronic low back pain. Factor analysis revealed a three-factor 13-item solution (68% of explained variance). The questionnaire was internally consistent with one exception (α = 0.92 as a whole; 0.89 for Helplessness, 0.87 for Rumination and 0.56 for Magnification subscales) and showed a high degree of test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.842). Concurrent validity showed moderate correlations with the NRS (r = 0.44), TSK (r = 0.59), RMDQ (r = 0.45), HADS (Anxiety: r = 0.57; Depression r = 0.46) and PANAS (Negative Affect r = 0.54). The minimum detectable change was 10.45. The subscales were also psychometrically analysed. The successfully translated Italian version of the PCS has good psychometric properties replicating those of other versions.
Highlights
SubjectsLow back pain (LBP) is a clinical condition that frequently affects adults [1]
Purpose The aim of this study was to create an Italian version of the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS-I) and evaluate its psychometric properties in a sample with chronic low back pain
Foti Chair of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy. It took 4 months to develop an agreed version of the PCS-I, which was satisfactorily administered to 180 subjects with chronic low back pain
Summary
SubjectsLow back pain (LBP) is a clinical condition that frequently affects adults [1]. Increasing evidence supports the crucial role of psychosocial factors, including psychological factors such as beliefs (e.g. catastrophising, fear of movement), everyday life strategies (e.g. coping), mood (e.g. anxiety, depression, distress), social factors (e.g. social support) and work (e.g. job satisfaction) which, by interacting with the environment, may lead to illness as they are the direct expression of an individual response to pain [3]. Catastrophising pain is one of the most important psychological variables explaining pain responses It has been defined as ‘an exaggerated negative orientation towards actual or anticipated pain experiences’ and reflects a tendency to misinterpret or exaggerate apparently threatening situations [4] that can lead to increased sensitivity to pain, enmeshing patients in a vicious circle that may involve reduced bodily performance. The inclusion criteria were chronic common LBP, an age of C18 years, and an ability to read and speak Italian fluently; the exclusion criteria were acute and subacute common LBP, specific causes of LBP, central or peripheral neurological signs, systemic illness or psychiatric deficits, and recent myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, or chronic lung or renal diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
