Pain Catastrophizing Scale

Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a psychological instrument used to measure an individual's tendency to catastrophize about their pain. It was developed by Sullivan, M.J.L., Bishop, S., and Pivik, J. in 1995. The scale is widely used in both clinical and research settings to assess the mental and emotional aspects of pain perception.

Overview

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a self-report questionnaire that consists of 13 items, each rated on a 5-point scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating a greater tendency to catastrophize about pain. The PCS is divided into three subscales: rumination, magnification, and helplessness.

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The Pain Catastrophizing Scale

Rumination

Rumination refers to the tendency to focus on and think repetitively about one's pain. This can include thoughts such as "I can't stop thinking about how much it hurts" or "I keep thinking about how much I want the pain to stop".

Magnification

Magnification involves exaggerating the threat value or seriousness of the pain. This can include thoughts such as "I worry that something serious may happen" or "I become afraid that the pain will get worse".

Helplessness

Helplessness refers to the belief that one is unable to control or manage the pain. This can include thoughts such as "There's nothing I can do to reduce the intensity of the pain" or "I feel I can't go on".

Use in Research and Clinical Practice

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale is used in both research and clinical practice to assess the psychological aspects of pain perception. It has been found to be a reliable and valid measure of pain catastrophizing, and has been used in numerous studies investigating the role of psychological factors in pain perception and management.

In clinical practice, the PCS can be used to identify individuals who may be at risk for poor pain management outcomes due to their tendency to catastrophize about their pain. This information can then be used to guide treatment planning and intervention.

See Also

• Pain perception
• Pain management
• Psychological pain

References

• Sullivan, M.J.L., Bishop, S., & Pivik, J. (1995). The Pain Catastrophizing Scale: Development and validation. Psychological Assessment, 7(4), 524-532.