Document Type

Poster

Date

4-9-2026

Keywords

Pain interference among veterans

Campus Community

Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation; College of Arts and Sciences; Veteran and Military Behavioral Health Collaborative; D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Syracuse University

Language

English

Funder(s)

Center for Health Behavior Research & Innovation, D'Aniello Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, Veteran & Military Health Collaborative

Disciplines

Military and Veterans Studies

Description/Abstract

Introduction: Pain catastrophizing, defined as a cognitive distortion that magnifies threat of pain, is a strong predictor of pain interference. However, the construct of pain catastrophizing has been criticized for potentially reflecting underlying psychopathology rather than a distinct pain-specific process. The present study examined whether pain catastrophizing uniquely predicts pain interference after accounting for symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Clarifying this distinction is critical for understanding whether the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) captures a construct that is meaningfully distinct from general psychological distress or if the measure is conceptually and statistically redundant with psychopathology Method: A sample of 266 veterans were recruited using Prolific, an online research panel service. Participants completed measures assessing pain interference (PEG scale from the Graded Chronic Pain Scale), PTSD symptoms (PCL), depression symptoms (PHQ), anxiety symptoms (GAD-2), and pain catastrophizing. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the unique association between catastrophizing and pain interference over and above psychological symptoms. Results: A total of 157 veterans, 55% male average age 47 years, completed the study. Both PTSD symptoms (b = 0.80, SE = 0.30, p = .01) and depression symptoms (b = 1.28, SE = 0.35, p < .01) but not anxiety symptoms (b=.17, SE=.34, p=.60) were independently associated with pain interference. A hierarchical regression found that pain catastrophizing was uniquely associated with pain interference (b=4.39, SE=.65, p< .01) and explained an additional 17% of variance in pain interference above and beyond mental health symptoms (F(1,152)=46.15, p< .01). Discussion: Pain catastrophizing explains unique and clinically meaningful variance in pain interference beyond general psychological distress. These findings support catastrophizing as a distinct cognitive mechanism and suggest that interventions targeting maladaptive pain-related cognitions may improve functional outcomes among veterans with chronic pain.

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