Post-polio syndrome: impact of hope on quality of life

Purpose: To determine the effect of future-oriented coping strategies on the quality of life (QOL) of individuals with post-polio syndrome (PPS). Methods: A correlative study, in which a cohort of 61 patients was surveyed and a group of 40 healthy, age-matched individuals served as controls. Patients were surveyed as to their QOL, levels of hope and utilization of proactive coping, employment status and degree of functionality. Results: PPS patients had lower total, physical and mental QOL indices compared to controls. Future-oriented coping strategies associated with hope were positively associated with physical and mental QOL in the PPS group, but not in the controls. In a multivariate analysis, hope and employment status predicted higher QOL among those with PPS. Conclusions: Future-oriented coping strategies, particularly hope are distinctively associated with improved QOL benefits in PPS patients. Fostering future-oriented coping related to hope may improve the self-perceived mental and physical status of patients with PPS.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Coping styles of individuals with post-polio can be conceptualized in terms of positive-optimistic psychological constructs rather than the traditional negative frame of reference.

• Hope is distinctively associated with improved quality of life among post-polio patients.

• Enhancing hope through psychotherapy may improve mental and physical health of individuals with postpolio.

     

抑郁症患者焦虑症状、应付方式与人格特征的关系

背景:焦虑和抑郁的共病率各家报道不一,在抑郁症的病理心理学上,伴有焦虑症状的抑郁症患者的应付方式与人格及其与抑郁症状的关系等基本问题并不十分清楚。目的:分析伴有焦虑症状抑郁症患者的应付方式与人格的关系。设计:病例-对照观察。单位:中南大学湘雅二医院、湖南省脑科医院。对象:选择2002-06/2003-01在中南大学湘雅二医院、湖南省脑科医院住院的抑郁症患者88例。另选择中南大学湘雅二医院、中山大学部分职工及家属、临时工、学生中健康自愿者90人为正常对照组。方法:采用抑郁自评量表、焦虑自评量表、应付方式问卷、艾森克人格问卷进行调查评估。主要观察指标:①抑郁症组与正常对照组抑郁自评量表、焦虑自评量表、应付方式问卷、艾森克人格问卷评分比较。②有焦虑症状抑郁症组和无焦虑症状抑郁症组抑郁自评量表、焦虑自评量表、应付方式问卷、艾森克人格问卷评分比较。③抑郁症组各指标相关分析和逐步回归分析结果。结果:178名入选对象均进入结果分析。①抑郁症患者抑郁自评量表、焦虑自评量表、艾森克人格问卷的精神质、神经质两个维度的得分高于正常对照组,而艾森克人格问卷的内外向维度、积极应付方式得分低于对照组。②伴有焦虑症者抑郁自评量表、焦虑自评量表、艾森克人格问卷的精神质、神经质两个维度的得分明显高于不伴焦虑症者,积极应付方式得分低于无焦虑症组。③相关、回归分析表明抑郁症状的严重程度与焦虑自评量表、艾森克人格问卷的内外向维度及积极应付方式的关系更为密切。结论:①抑郁症患者的抑郁症状、焦虑症状、精神质较明显,偏内向,情绪不稳定,较少采用积极的应付方式。②有焦虑症状的抑郁症患者其抑郁症状较严重,精神质、神经质比较明显,较少采用积极的应付方式。③较少采用积极的应付方式可纳入人格特质的内外向维度之中。     

Predictors of depressive symptoms and physical health in caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia

This cross‐sectional study examined relationships among factors influencing caregiver burden, depressive symptoms, and physical health in family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. Two hundred family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia completed standardized questionnaires related to depressive symptoms, physical health, perceptions of burden, coping, and social support. The results revealed that 19.5% of family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia experienced significant depressive symptoms and 65.5% perceived themselves in poor physical health. Burden, self‐controlling coping strategies, and physical health status were all independently predictive of depressive symptoms. Two emotion‐focused coping strategies (self‐controlling and escape‐avoidance) were independently predictive of caregiver burden. Only burden predicted physical health status. The findings suggest that health professionals who provide community care for those with schizophrenia need to consider the “unit of care” as the family rather than the individual. The health status of family caregivers should be routinely assessed. Individualized interventions to reduce family burden could include community‐based health professionals as well as trained community volunteers, opportunities for social interaction, and improving self‐care for all family members.     

Do beliefs, coping, and catastrophizing independently predict functioning in patients with chronic pain?

Physical and psychosocial disability in patients with chronic pain have been shown to be associated with patients' pain-related beliefs, tendency to catastrophize, and pain coping strategy use. However, little is known about whether beliefs, catastrophizing, and coping strategies are independently associated with patient adjustment. Identification of specific beliefs, cognitive responses, and coping strategies strongly and independently associated with physical and psychosocial functioning would suggest the importance of targeting those variables for modification in treatment. One hundred sixty-nine patients entering a multidisciplinary pain treatment program completed measures of pain, beliefs, coping, catastrophizing, physical disability, and depression. Principal components analyses were used to create belief and coping components, which were then entered in multiple regression analyses predicting physical disability and depression. Belief scores significantly and independently predicted both physical disability and depression, after controlling for age, sex, pain intensity, catastrophizing, and coping. Coping scores significantly and independently predicted physical disability, but not depression, whereas catastrophizing independently predicted depression, but not physical disability. These findings suggest the importance of targeting specific pain-related beliefs and coping strategies, as well as catastrophizing, for modification in the treatment of patients with chronic pain.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life in patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been investigated widely in patients with chronic pain, but no study has focused particularly on the situation of patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder. AIMS: To survey the impairments of patients with somatoform pain disorder (ICD-10: F45.4) and to predict pain-related impairments and HRQOL on the basis of coping styles. METHODS: A consecutively recruited sample of 100 patients (65% female) was examined in a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires were administered to assess pain intensity (visual analogue scale), pain-related disabilities (Pain Disability Index), quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey-36), and ways of coping with pain (Coping Strategies Questionnaire). To predict pain-related impairments and HRQOL, a multiple linear regression analysis was carried out. RESULTS: HRQOL of patients with somatoform pain is strongly and significantly reduced compared with the general population. Among the coping measures, Increasing Pain Behaviors and Catastrophizing have a negative influence on patients' pain-related impairments and the physical components of HRQOL. The mental component of HRQOL was predicted solely by Catastrophizing. No positive effect of active coping styles on health-related outcome variables could be observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder feel severely impaired. A clear pattern emerges for negative effects of the coping styles Increasing Pain Behaviors and Catastrophizing, while the identification of beneficial coping failed.     

Study on the quality of life and its related factors for older adults in communities in Beijing,China

Objectives: To describe the quality of life (QOL) of adults ≥60 years of age in communities in Beijing and explore demographic, clinical, and psychological factors associated with QOL. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 363 older adults were recruited, in which 313 completed the questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and QOL was analyzed with the 36-item shor t form (SF-36). The t-test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare QOL by gender and age group. Factors associated with QOL were determined using multiple linear regression. Results: Among 313 older adults, depressive symptoms were observed to be prevalent to the extent of 16.6％. Overall, participants had higher QOL in the domains of social role functioning and emotional role functioning, with lower QOL in the domains of physical functioning and general health perceptions. There were no significant differences in QOL between women and men. However, there were significant differences between different age groups, with older adults having better mental QOL than younger adults. Better physical QOL was associated with less depressive symptoms, having a partner, and younger age (R2 = 28.7％). Better mental QOL was associated with less depressive symptoms, less chronic disease, and older age (R2 = 34.7％). Conclusions: With aging, physical QOL was lower and mental QOL was better. Less depressive symptoms, having a spouse or par tner, and young–old age asser t positive influence on physical QOL of the older adults; and less depressive symptoms, no chronic disease, and older age asser t positive influence on mental QOL.     

大学生的应付方式与其心理适应性

背景:目前已确认应付方式是应激与健康身心之间的中介因素,应对大致分为应对的特质论、情境论和交互作用论的取向,对于应付的描述和分类评估系统仍有待研究。目的:分析应付方式的维度、不同应付方式的特点及与大学生心理适应性的关系。设计:问卷调查。单位:北京师范大学心理学院。对象:随机抽样选取天津大学、天津商学院、天津师范大学、天津财经学院343名大学生,男生161名,女生182名;年龄19～22岁,平均(19±2)岁,根据学校体检结果,均无严重急性及慢性疾病,所有学生均对检测项目知情同意。方法:于1999-09/12在4所高校学生所在教室施测,以自然班级为单位集体施测,共计16个班级,发放422份答题手册,每份手册包含《应付方式评定量表》、《青少年心理适应性量表》及《SCL-90》3个量表,当场收回问卷。应付方式的评定使用梁宝勇修订《应付方式评定量表》,包括20个项目,每个项目陈述了1种个体在日常生活中经常使用的应付策略,如“告诉自己,同别人相比,自己的问题算不了什么,不值得烦恼。”选项为自评5点量表。其中20个项目涵盖了人们常用的多种应付方式,心理适应结果选用2项指标,一是陈会昌编制的《青少年心理适应性量表》,共计20个题目,选项共5个等级,得分高表明适应水平高,另一个指标是《90项症状核查量表》计算总分作为个体的心理健康水平的指标之一,分数越高表明身心症状检出率越高,适应水平越低。测量数据全部录入Foxbase数据库,采用因素及聚类分析处理数据,观察大学生应对方式的类型,采用相关分析评价不同维度应对方式与适应结果的相关性。主要观察指标:大学生应对方式的类型及不同维度应对方式与适应结果的相关性。结果:共发放422份问卷,收回问卷362份,其中19份问卷因填写有漏项或者选择偏差严重而作为无效问卷,其余343名学生数据进入结果分析。①因素分析显示大学生应对方式的类型主要为F1(寻求支持)、F2(积极思维)、F3(认知升华)、F4(消极自责)、F5(面对现实)、F6(转移逃避)、F7(情绪宣泄),聚类分析应对方式的类型主要为A类(主动面对型),B类(被动退避型),C类(消极宣泄型)。②适应水平较高的受试者更多的运用A类方式,适应差的学生较多使用B、C类方式,C类应付在学生群体中的使用频率较低。A类方式与身心症状的检出率呈显著负相关(r=-0.258,P<0.01),与适应性水平呈显著正相关(r=0.467,P<0.01);B类方式和C类方式与身心症状检出率都呈显著正相关(r=0.338,0.364,P<0.01),B类与心理适应性有较显著的负相关(r=-0.140,P<0.05),C类只与长期的心理适应性的关系不显著。A类与C类具有各自的独立性。不同程度应激水平与3类应付方式也有显著关系,高应激与较少的使用A类方式有关,而与较多的使用B类、C类有关。结论:应付方式具有复杂性,不同应对方式的使用与心理适应性水平有显著相关,但影响的方向也因个体特点、结果变量指标、应激程度大小等因素有所不同。     

Association Between Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms During Prehospitalization Waiting Period and Quality of Recovery at Postoperative Day 3 in Perioperative Cancer Patients

PurposePerioperative depressive symptoms are associated with poor postoperative quality of life (QOL), leading to prolonged hospital stays, and delayed return to society. Previous studies show that physical and mental states change on the third day after surgery, and there is a correlation between quality of recovery (QoR) on this day and QOL at 3 months after surgery. QoR after surgery is an important indicator of postoperative QOL. However, there are no reports on the association between depressive symptoms, and postoperative QoR. Therefore, the study purpose was to clarify the relationship between depressive symptoms in perioperative cancer patients during the prehospitalization waiting period, and QoR on the third postoperative day.DesignThis was a prospective cohort study.MethodsWe examined whether depressive symptoms during the prehospitalization waiting period were related to QoR on day 3 after surgery in perioperative cancer patients. Subjects were patients with primary tumors who underwent surgery under general anesthesia. Subjects completed self-administered questionnaires during the prehospitalization waiting period and on postoperative day 3. The presence and/or absence of depressive symptoms was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Subjects were divided into two groups: depressive symptoms or non–depressive symptoms. Postoperative QoR was determined using the QoR-40 questionnaire and we calculated the rate of change in QoR-40 global and dimension scores from preoperation to postoperation.Findings231 individuals met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 173 were included in the analysis. Only the rate of change in emotional state differed significantly between groups (P = .022). Both global and dimension QoR-40 scores were lower in the depressive symptoms group than in the non–depressive symptoms group.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the need to provide both psychological and physical support continuously from the preoperative to early postoperative stage for cancer patients with depressive symptoms in the prehospitalization waiting period.     

不同性别抑郁症患者临床特点和防御方式分析

目的探讨不同性别抑郁症患者的临床特征及防御方式的差异性。方法对164例抑郁症患者以不同性别进行分组,其中男性组71例,女性组93例。采用半定式检查法,严格按照遗传学研究用诊断检查问卷内容询问入组患者临床症状,应用防御方式问卷、汉密顿抑郁量表、抑郁自评量表进行评定分析。结果汉密顿抑郁量表评分男女患者总分及各因子分差异均无显著性（P〉0.05）,但女性患者早醒、躯体性焦虑、胃肠道症状因子分均高于男性。抑郁自评量表评分女性患者哭泣因子分显著高于男性,焦虑不安、体重减轻因子分显著低于男性（P〈0.01）,总分及其他因子分差异均无显著性（P〉0.05）。防御方式问卷评分男性患者被动攻击、退缩、假性利他等因子分显著高于女性,而抱怨、躯体化、制止等因子分均显著低于女性,两组比较差异均有极显著性（P〈0.01）。结论不同性别抑郁症患者的临床特征存在差异性,其防御方式有一定的性别差异性。     

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

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.     

Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among Homeless Men on Parole

This study describes correlates of high levels of depressive symptoms among recently paroled men in Los Angeles who reside in a community substance abuse treatment program and report homelessness. Cross-sectional data were obtained from male residents who were released on parole within the last 30 days (N =157) to assess parental relationship, self-esteem, social support, coping behaviors, drug and alcohol use behaviors, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic information. Results indicated that 40% of the participants were classified as experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 10). Results of a logistic regression analysis showed that the following were predictors of depressive symptoms (p <.05): physical abuse in childhood, non-residential alcohol treatment, violent behaviors, low self-esteem, and disengagement coping. Being Mexican-American, Mexican, American Indian, or Asian, and not displaying cognitive problems was inversely related to depressive symptoms in the final model (B =–2.39, p <.05). Findings support proper use of both prison and community assessment services to at-risk individuals eligible for parole to increase self-esteem and coping.     

军校护生心理健康状况与心理社会因素的相关和回归分析

目的 了解军校护生心理健康状况及其与心理社会影响因素的关系。方法 采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)、简单应对方式量表、自尊量表、生活事件量表,自我态度量表等对469名军校护生进行测评。结果 军校护生SCL-90各因子得分均高于中国女性得分;除强迫、恐怖因子外,均低于国内普通大学生和军校大学生得分。相关分析显示,军校护生SCL-90均分及各因子得分与生活事件各因子、应对方式中的消极应对呈显著正相关,与应对方式中的积极应对、自尊程度、自我态度呈显著负相关。回归分析显示,对护生心理健康状况影响大小依次为生活事件、自尊程度等。结论 对护生有针对性地开展心理健康教育,通过培养积极的应对方式,减少消极应对,提高自我悦纳的水平,有助于调节生活事件的影响,促进其心理健康。     

艾滋病患者感知歧视度及其与抑郁、社会支持和应对方式的相关性

目的 探讨艾滋病患者感知歧视度现状,分析其与抑郁、社会支持和应对方式的的相关性.方法 采用便利抽样法选取2019年1月—2020年3月于本院就诊的160例艾滋病患者,并采用一般资料调查表、感知歧视度量表、汉密尔顿抑郁量表、医疗社会支持量表、简易应对方式问卷调查并分析AIDS患者感知歧视度的影响因素.结果 160例AID...     

Association of daily hassles,daily uplifts,coping styles and stress-related symptoms among women exposed to sexual abuse—A cross-sectional study

Background

Women who experience physical or sexual violence report poor self-perceived health. Knowledge of daily hassles, daily uplifts and coping styles, as well as how these factors can affect health and well-being among survivors of sexual abuse, is important for healthcare professionals to understand and target their needs.

Aim

The aim of the current study was to explore the association of daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping strategies and stress-related symptoms among female survivors of sexual abuse.

Methods

A group of women (n = 57), exposed to sexual abuse, were recruited from nine support centres in Norway. Participants completed a questionnaire that addressed demographics, socioeconomic conditions, trauma history, daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping styles and stress-related symptoms. Two groups of participants were compared: one group that had above-median scores on uplifts and adaptive coping styles and one group that had above-median scores on daily hassles and maladaptive coping styles.

Results

Results indicate that women who experienced more daily hassles and used maladaptive coping styles reported significantly more stress-related symptoms, and particularly emotional symptoms, than women who experienced more daily uplifts and used adaptive coping styles. There were few differences between the two groups related to socioeconomic conditions and trauma history.

Conclusion

The results indicate that women in both groups struggle with stress-related physical, emotional, cognitive and target group-specific symptoms. However, high incidence of daily hassles and the use of maladaptive coping styles were associated with an increase in stress-related symptoms. Novell’s findings indicate that despite severe traumatic experiences, adaptive coping styles and favourable perceptions of stress in everyday life were associated with a lower frequency of stress-related symptoms. It may therefore be helpful to focus on altering maladaptive coping styles to reduce stress-related symptoms among sexual abuse survivors.     

The role of pain coping strategies in prognosis after whiplash injury: passive coping predicts slowed recovery

Pain coping strategies are associated with pain severity, psychological distress and physical functioning in populations with persistent pain. However, there is little evidence regarding the relationship between coping styles and recovery from recent musculoskeletal injuries. We performed a large, population-based prospective cohort study of traffic injuries to assess the relationship between pain coping strategies and recovery from whiplash injuries. Subjects were initially assessed within 6 weeks of the injury, with structured telephone interview follow-up at 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-injury. Coping was measured at 6 weeks using the Pain Management Inventory and recovery was assessed at each subsequent follow-up period, using a global self-report question. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that early use of passive coping strategies was independently associated with slower recovery. Depressive symptomatology (CES-D) was an effect modifier of this relationship. Without depressive symptomatology, those using high levels of passive coping recovered 37% slower than those using low levels of passive coping (HRR=0.63; 95% CI 0.44-0.91). However, in the presence of depressive symptomatology, those using high levels of passive coping recovered 75% more slowly than those who coped less passively (HRR=0.25; 95% CI 0.17-0.39). In other words, those with depressive symptoms but who used few passive coping strategies recovered four times more quickly than those with depressive symptoms who used high levels of passive coping. Active coping showed no independent association with recovery. These findings highlight the importance of early assessment of both coping behaviors and depressive symptomatology.     

Pain-related catastrophizing and perceived social responses: Inter-relationships in the context of chronic pain

Pain-related coping, particularly catastrophizing, plays a significant role in shaping pain responses. One way catastrophizing is hypothesized to amplify pain and disability is via its effect on patients' social environments (e.g., communal coping model), though empirical support is limited. The present study tested whether the association between catastrophizing and deleterious pain-related outcomes was mediated by patients' perceptions of significant others' responses to their pain in a sample of 1356 pain patients. Regression analyses showed that perceived significant other punishing responses partially mediated catastrophizing's relationship with pain-related disability, and with depressive symptoms. Further, several variables moderated the association between catastrophizing and perceived social responses to pain. Catastrophizing was more strongly associated with greater perceived solicitous responses for patients of relatively short pain duration. Also, higher catastrophizing was more strongly associated with perceived punishing responses among patients perceiving lower social support. In addition, the mediational effects of perceived punishing responses on catastrophizing's relationship with depressive symptoms, and with pain-related disability were only found in individuals reporting low levels of perceived social support. In sum, perceived social responses were found to play a small role in mediating the relationship between catastrophizing and pain-related outcomes, and these mediational effects may be strongest in particular patient subgroups. The present data suggest that interpersonal mechanisms may not constitute a primary route by which catastrophizing exerts its maladaptive effects on pain responses. The study and further understanding of what principal factors mediate catastrophizing's deleterious effects on pain will be important in illuminating the biopsychosocial model of pain.     

突发性群体暴力事件执勤官兵应对方式调查

目的 探讨突发性群体暴力事件中执勤官兵的应对方式,为制定有效的心理干预措施提供依据.方法将突发性群体暴力事件中某部145名执勤官兵设为研究组,同期随机抽取某部124名非执勤官兵设为对照组,于事件发生2周末,采用简易应对方式问卷评定两组应对方式.结果 研究组简易应对方式问卷消极应对维度评分显著低于对照组(P<0.01);军官与士官、军官与义务兵积极应对,消极应对维度评分差异均有显著性(P<0.01);士官与义务兵消极应对维度评分差异有显著性(P<0.01);不同年龄官兵消极应对维度评分差异有显著性(P<0.01);不同军龄、文化程度官兵积极应对,消极应对维度评分差异均有显著性(P<0.05或0.01);不同婚姻状况官兵积极应对、消极应对维度评分差异均无显著性(P>0.05).结论 执勤官兵的应对方式较为积极,职别低、年龄小、军龄小、文化程度低的官兵易采取消极应对方式.     

Physical and mental health in African American mothers with HIV.

This article examines the physical and mental health of African American mothers during a 2-year period following the birth of an infant seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Participants were 34 African American mothers enrolled when the infants were approximately 3 months of age and reinterviewed when the infants were 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Three self-report questionnaires were used to assess physical health (perception of health, activity limitation, and physical symptoms) and mental health (depressive symptoms and stigma). Health symptoms most often reported were infections, problems thinking and remembering, low energy, and gynecologic problems. Moderate levels of perceived stigma were reported. Depressive symptoms were high; a large number of women at each data point had depressive symptom scores above the cutoff, indicating risk for depression. There were significant correlations between depressive symptoms and health, suggesting a link between mental and physical health. These findings have significance for the health of the mother and the parenting of her infant. Attention should be paid to the mental and physical health of mothers with HIV, especially during the first 2 years after the birth of a child.     

Relationships among sleep quality,coping styles,and depressive symptoms among college nursing students: A multiple mediator model

Background

Poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms are common among college nursing students, and may be associated with each other. However, the mechanism for this association has not been well understood.

Catastrophizing is associated with pain intensity,psychological distress,and pain-related disability among individuals with chronic pain after spinal cord injury

Little research has examined the role of patient cognitive and behavioral responses, including catastrophizing, in adjustment to chronic pain associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). The objective of this study was to examine the associations of catastrophizing and specific pain coping strategies with pain intensity, psychological distress, and pain-related disability among individuals with chronic pain and SCI, after controlling for important demographic and SCI-related variables that might affect outcomes. Participants in this study were 174 community residents with SCI and chronic pain who completed a mailed questionnaire that included the SF-36 Mental Health scale, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and Graded Chronic Pain Scale. The pain coping and catastrophizing measures explained an additional 29% of the variance in pain intensity after adjusting for the demographic and SCI variables (P<0.001). The coping and catastrophizing scales accounted for an additional 30% of the variance in psychological distress (P<0.001) and 11% of the variance in pain-related disability (P<0.001), after controlling for pain intensity and demographic and SCI variables. Catastrophizing, but not any other single pain coping strategy, was consistently strongly and independently associated with the outcome measures. Potentially, the assessment and treatment of catastrophizing may reduce psychological distress and pain-related disability among individuals with chronic pain and SCI.