Biopsychosocial Profiles of Different Pain Diagnostic Groups

Different pain diagnoses have been examined separately in various research studies. The major aim of the present investigation was to add to the current understanding of the various groups of patients who make up the chronic pain population. This study expanded the research literature by including 7 different predominantly chronic pain syndromes (fibromyalgia, upper extremity pain, cervical pain, thoracic pain, lumbar pain, lower extremity pain, and headache). These 7 groups were examined by using a broad array of variables focusing on demographic, self-reported psychosocial, and physical/functional factors. There were 661 patients included from an interdisciplinary treatment program who had been given 1 physical pain diagnosis. Results revealed differences among the 7 groups with regard to self-reported physical/functional limitations. The headache group had less physical/functional impairment than most of the other groups. On the other hand, the lumbar, fibromyalgia, and lower extremity groups had the most physical/functional problems. On self-reported psychosocial measures, the fibromyalgia group had the most difficulties, and the lower extremity and lumbar groups had fewer problems in this area. Overall, though, besides the fibromyalgia group, there was a lack of differences among the other groups on the psychosocial measures. Perspective: Biopsychosocial profiles were examined for different pain diagnostic groups. Seven different pain groups were compared. It was discovered that, in general, the lumbar, fibromyalgia, and lower extremity groups reported more physical/functional limitations, and the fibromyalgia and headache groups reported more psychosocial difficulties.