This study examined maladaptive pain-related fear-avoidance and endurance coping in patients with chronic back pain. Endurance coping was defined as the tendency to endure severe pain to finish current activities irrespective of pain increases. 120 subjects referred for treatment of chronic pain where classified as dysfunctional, interpersonally distressed, or adaptive copers using the Multidimensional Pain Inventory.
The authors intended to evaluate whether the above subgroups differed with respect to maladaptive pain-related fear-avoidance coping and endurance coping. They also sought to investigate thought suppression and endurance behavior among the subgroups.
88 percent of the subjects were classified into one of the three subgroups. 16 percent were in the dysfunctional group, 24 percent in the interpersonally distressed group, and 62 percent in the adapative coper group.
New treatment and assessment approaches emphasize the positive association between positive mood, acceptance, and adjustment. Cognitive behavioral interventions may prove helpful particularly in dysfunctional subgroup of patients. Pain coping strategies differ among the subgroups, some utilizing fear avoidance coping and others endurance coping. Endurance coping may also be a risk factor for the development of chronic pain.