THE RELATIONS BETWEEN SELECTED PERSONALITY FEATURES AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN A GROUP WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL CHRONIC PAIN

Abstract

There is evidence that chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with personality characteristic and mental problem, although the nature of the relation, especially in terms of cause and effect, is often unclear. Along with the biopsychosocial understanding of the phenomenon of pain in many cases pain cannot be reduced to a simple reaction. The aim of the research was to obtain knowledge concerning the relations between selected personality features, level of anxiety and the symptoms of depression in a group of patients suffering from musculoskeletal chronic pain. The research covered 98 patients qualified to the programme of pain therapy in the Center for Pain Treatment. The Personality Inventory and the data from the documentation (Pain Assessment Card)were applied. On the basis of the obtained data, the relations between selected personality features, effects in chronic pain therapy and the symptoms of depression with the use of the analysis of regression were examined. The research programme was concentrated on creating regressive models that cover the examined variables and allow us to find out which personality factors cause regular changes of symptoms of depression and effects in chronic pain therapy. Personality factors: neuroticism (B=0.59) and extraversion (B=-0.59) was significant in shaping the level of depression symptoms (p<0,01).The correlation between the positive cognitive-behavioural approach and ability to prolonged exercise during pain treatment was observed (p<0.05).Neuroticism seems to be potential positive predictor of depressive symptoms occurrence concerning persons suffering from musculoskeletal chronic pain.