Psychological distress influences perceived disability, pain for patients with shoulder diagnoses

ORLANDO, Fla. — Depression, catastrophic thinking and lower self-efficacy were associated with levels of pain and perceived disability among patients with shoulder-specific diagnoses, according to data presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, here.

“Patient-to-patient variation in shoulder pain and disability was more strongly related to psychological distress than to the specific shoulder diagnosis. In an era, of volume-based care where patient-reported outcomes are more important, interventions to decrease catastrophic thinking and optimize self-efficacy hold great potential to reduce symptom intensity and magnitude of disability,” Mariano Menendez, MD, said.

In a prospective, cross-sectional study, Menendez and colleagues enrolled 139 adult patients who presented to a shoulder surgeon for the first time. The patients completed a sociodemographic survey and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-2). The investigators reviewed patient charts to determine the diagnosis.

Menendez and colleagues found SPADI scores had medium correlation with the PCS, PHQ-2 and PSEQ. Current work status and BMI were associated with SPADI scores. Greater catastrophic thinking, lower self-efficacy, higher BMI and being disabled or retired were associated with worse SPADI scores. However, the primary shoulder diagnosis did not have a significant association with SPADI scores, he said. – by Kristine Houck, ELS

Reference:

Menendez M, et al. Paper #76. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon Annual Meeting; March 1-5, 2016; Orlando, Fla.

Disclosure: Menendez reports no relevant financial disclosures.