A comparison of measured personality characteristics of chronic low back pain patients and multiple pain patients

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare personality characteristics of patients being treated for specific types of chronic benign pain. The subjects were 166 patients seeking treatment at a chronic pain clinic in a large hospital in the Southwestern United States from 1983 to 1984. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was completed by each subject prior to receiving treatment at the clinic. Demographic information, including type of pain, sex, level of education, duration of pain, and other factors was also gathered. The results of this study indicated that four MMPI profile pattern types usually occur. In one profile type it is suggested that the individual has adapted to the invalid role by focusing on particular pain symptoms in a manner consistent with conversion disorders. A second profile type suggests that the subject is currently coping with the chronic pain in an adaptive way, and may be an excellent therapy candidate regarding approaches to minimize the pain experienced. A third profile type suggests a more severely disturbed subject, more emotionally isolated than the others and with more deficiencies in reality testing. The fourth profile type suggests a tendency to maintain focus on the pain more consistently than the others, to be more depressed, and the feel more helpless than the others. Additionally, it was suggested that susceptibility to alcoholism, willingness to disclose pathology, rigidity in personality beliefs and perceptions, and feelings regarding dependency needs were significant factors in differentiating among these groups. Results of this study suggest that the MMPI is a useful tool in differentiating types of pain patients. Implications include the adaptation or modification of treatment programs for chronic benign pain patients in ways that might better fit their personal needs. Certain special scales were found to be particularly relevant to this end.