A cohort study of psychosocial factors in relationship to pain in patients with Spinal Cord Injury(SCI) and Stroke in New Zealand.

Presenter:

Mark Adams
Physiotherapist, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Burwood Hospital (CDHB)
RTRU, University of Otago, New Zealand

Held:

Thursday 16th March, 2017
Burwood Hospital

ABSTRACT: A cohort study of psychosocial factors in relationship to pain in patients with Spinal Cord Injury(SCI) and Stroke in New Zealand.
Mark Adams(1,2)
(1) Canterbury District Health Board
(2) RTRU, University of Otago, New Zealand

Background: Pain is a common complication following stroke and Spinal Cord Injury. Psychosocial factors have been associated with outcomes in other populations who are experiencing pain. Little is known about their effect, if any, in stroke and SCI.

Aims: To measure the associations between peoples mental health, pain coping strategies and pain related attitudes and beliefs with pain outcomes when people are admitted to rehabilitation and at six months follow up.

What we did: Participants completed questionnaires for psychosocial factors and pain outcomes on admission to rehabilitation and after six months. The associations between psychosocial factors and pain outcomes were assessed at admission and at six months.

What we found: Psychosocial factors are associated with pain early after both stroke and SCI. Psychosocial factors are also associated with pain outcomes several months after stroke and SCI which highlights the importance of psychosocial factors in both of these clinical conditions.

Potential clinical implications: The study has provided preliminary findings for a relationship between psychosocial factors and pain outcomes early after a person’s injury, and at follow up. Adopting a biopsychosocial approach may improve these patient’s pain outcomes during rehabilitation and also in the longer term.

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