Overlap of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain: An exploratory study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A wide variety of cognitive concepts have been shown to play an important role in chronic widespread pain (CWP). Although these concepts are generally considered to be distinct entities, some might in fact be highly overlapping. The objectives of this study were to (i) to establish inter-relationships between self-efficacy, cognitive coping styles, fear-avoidance cognitions and illness beliefs in patients with CWP and (ii) to explore the possibility of a reduction of these cognitions into a more limited number of domains.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Baseline measurement data of a prospective cohort study of 138 patients with CWP were used. Factor analysis was used to study the associations between 16 different cognitive concepts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Factor analysis resulted in three factors: 1) negative emotional cognitions, 2) active cognitive coping, and 3) control beliefs and expectations of chronicity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Negative emotional cognitions, active cognitive coping, control beliefs and expectations of chronicity seem to constitute principal domains of cognitive processes in CWP. These findings contribute to the understanding of overlap and uniqueness of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain.</p

Factors Associated With Sleep Quality in Patients With Chronic Widespread Pain Attending Multidisciplinary Treatment

Purpose: (1) To investigate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and (2) to explore the associations between clinical, cognitive, and emotional factors and quality of sleep in patients with chronic widespread pain (CWP) receiving multidisciplinary treatment. Method: Baseline data were used from 163 patients with CWP referred for multidisciplinary treatment. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship of clinical (pain, fatigue, pain interference, and disability), emotional (anxiety, depression, and psychological distress), and cognitive factors (catastrophizing, acceptance, self-efficacy, kinesiophobia and illness beliefs) with sleep quality, as measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: Poor sleep quality was found in 92% of the patients. The multivariable model showed that a higher level of fatigue (b = 1.77, standard error [SE] = 0.62, β = 0.21, t = 2.87, P < 0.01), psychological distress (b = 0.02, SE = 0.01, β = 0.27, t = 3.50, P < 0.01), and more concerns about the illness (b = 0.46, SE = 0.18, β = 0.20, t = 2.57, P = 0.01) were independently associated with poorer quality of sleep. The overall linear regression model explains 27.9% of sleep quality. Conclusions: The high prevalence of poor sleep quality in patients with CWP referred for multidisciplinary treatment emphasizes the need to target sleep during treatment. Further research is needed to disentangle the cause–effect relationship between fatigue, psychological distress, and concerns about the illness and poor sleep (note: this abstract has been published before [Ann Rheum Dis. 2018;77:A1788])