Lakehead University Library Logo
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Knowledge Commons
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009
    • View Item
    •   Knowledge Commons
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    quick search

    Browse

    All of Knowledge CommonsCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDisciplineAdvisorCommittee MemberThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDisciplineAdvisorCommittee Member

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Examining the efficacy of a cognitive behavioural intervention in reducing anxiety sensitivity and functional impairment in chronic pain patients

    Thumbnail

    View/Open

    IorioC2015d-1b.pdf (1.920Mb)

    Date

    2015

    Author

    Iorio, Christina

    Degree

    Doctor of Philosophy

    Discipline

    Psychology : Clinical

    Subject

    Chronic pain and mental health
    Anxiety sensitivity
    Fear of pain

    Metadata

    Show full item record

    Abstract

    Comorbid psychological factors affect the experience and prognosis of chronic pain, as comorbidity is associated with poor treatment outcomes and greater levels of disability (Burns, Johnson, Mahoney, Devine, & Pawl, 1998; Holzberg, Robinson, Geisser, & Gremillion, 1996; Tunks, Crook, & Weir, 2008). Cognitive variables, such as anxiety sensitivity (AS) and fear of pain, have been associated with functional impairment (e.g., Gheldof et al., 2010; Plehn, Peterson, & Williams, 1998). One theory put forward is that AS is a vulnerability factor for the development of fear of pain (Keogh & Asmundson, 2004). The present study examined whether a cognitive-behavioural intervention that included a component targeting AS led to a reduction in functional impairment in participants with chronic pain. Ninety-six participants were recruited from several pain clinics. Following a screening procedure, eligible participants were assigned to either the 12-week treatment group or the control group, and completed questionnaire packages pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at a three month follow-up. Results partially supported the hypotheses made. Although there was no direct relationship between change in AS or fear of pain and functional impairment, participants did report a reduction in fear of pain following treatment. Exploratory analyses were conducted examining the relationship between therapeutic alliance (TA) and treatment outcome, and initial hypotheses made were supported, as participants who completed measures at all three time points demonstrated that higher levels of TA were associated with more self-control over pain and less catastrophizing. Strengths and limitations, along with clinical implications of the findings and directions for future work are discussed.

    URI

    http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/4233

    Collections

    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009

    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback

     


    Lakehead University Library
    Contact Us | Send Feedback