Sexual dysfunction and chronic pain: the role of psychological variables and impact on quality of life

Background: The diagnosis of cancer can shake the equanimity of the strongest individual and the onset of symptoms and eventual diagnosis are occasions for questions such as “Why me?”, “Why now?”, and “How did I get this illness?” Aims: The purpose of the present research on a sample of 103 recently diagnosed cancer patients was to investigate the extent of preoccupation with search for meaning, to document individual differences when one is confronted with a cancer diagnosis and to record changes if any in preoccupation during an interval of one month. Secondly to assess the role of religion/spirituality as well as social support in individual encounters with cancer by examining the effects of these two variables among individuals facing a common stressful situation. Lastly to examine relationship of search for meaning with psychological outcomes (anxiety, depression and quality of life). Results: The results indicated that individual differences did exist in the degree of preoccupation with “why me”, social support scores significantly differentiated between subgroups with different levels of preoccupation with “why me?” and that patients with highest engagement with “why me” had poorer quality of life and elevated distress levels. Conclusion: Findings highlighted the important role of meaning making issues and the need to address them in intervention. Secondly dialoguing with treating physicians regarding the important role of psychological variables and their relation to distress levels and quality of life.

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Impaired Functioning and Quality of Life in Severe Migraine: The Role of Catastrophizing and Associated Symptoms

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01420.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 1156-1165 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

KA Holroyd ◽

JB Drew ◽

CK Cottrell ◽

KM Romanek ◽

V Heh

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Self Report ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Associated Symptoms ◽

Anxiety Depression ◽

The Impact ◽

Severe Migraine ◽

Headache Patients

Migraine characteristics are associated with impaired functioning and quality of life (Fn/QoL), but the impact of other factors on Fn/QoL in headache patients is largely unexplored. We examined catastrophizing, comorbid anxiety/depression and migraine characteristics as related to Fn/QoL, and explored the consistency of these relationships across five Fn/QoL measures. We evaluated 232 frequent migraine sufferers for comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, and they completed anxiety, depression and catastrophizing measures, recorded migraine characteristics in a diary and completed five Fn/QoL measures (four self-report questionnaires, one diary disability measure). Backward regression revealed catastrophizing and severity of associated symptoms (photophobia, phonophobia, nausea) independently predicted Fn/QoL across all five measures (β weights 0.16–0.50, all P < 0.01). This is the first demonstration that a psychological response to migraines (catastrophizing) is associated with impaired Fn/QoL independent of migraine characteristics and other demographic and psychological variables. Severity of associated symptoms also emerged as an important contributor to Fn/QoL.

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SIMULACIÓN DE SÍNTOMAS EN PACIENTES CON FIBROMIALGIA

International Journal of Developmental and Educational Psychology Revista INFAD de psicología ◽

10.17060/ijodaep.2017.n1.v2.967 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 571

Author(s):

Carlos Barbosa Torres ◽

Sixto Cubo Delgado ◽

Florencio Vicente Castro

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Health Survey ◽

Fibromyalgia Syndrome ◽

Pain Scale ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Calidad De Vida ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Methods Of Control

Abstract.SIMULATION OF SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIAIn this paper we find a study about the variable of simulation of symptoms in fibromyalgia syndrome regarding to other psychological variables such as quality of life, depression, anxiety as well as gradation of pain. The study was performed with 40 patients, all diagnosed with fibromyalgia by the criteria of the American Rheumatology Association. The instruments used were the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS), the Graded Chronic Pain Scale and SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36v2). The results show that there is a relationship between the simulation of symptoms and chronic pain but not with quality of life. The simulation of symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia is a very complex phenomenon that depends on several methods of control among which it is possible to emphasize the use of screening like the SIMS supported with important physical and psychological examinations by experts.Key words: Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, symptom simulation.Resumen.En el presente trabajo encontramos un estudio sobre la variable simulación de síntomas en pacientes con fibromialgia en relación con otras variables psicológicas como calidad de vida, depresión y ansiedad al igual que la gradación del dolor. El estudio se realizó con un total de 40 pacientes todos diagnosticados con fibromialgia por los criterios de la Asociación Americana de Reumatología. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron, el Inventario Estructurado de Simulación de síntomas (SIMS), el Graded Chronic Pain Scale y el SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36v2) o Cuestionario autogestionado de Salud SF-36. Los resultados expuestos muestran que existen relación entre la simulación de síntomas dolor crónico pero no con la calidad de vida. La simulación de síntomas en pacientes con fibromialgia es un fenómeno muy complejo que depende de varios métodos de control entre los que cabe destacar la utilización de screening como el SIMS apoyados con importantes exámenes físicos y psicológicos por expertos.Palabras clave: Fibromialgia, dolor crónico, simulación de síntomas.

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Satisfaction with follow-up consultations among younger adults treated for cancer: the role of quality of life and psychological variables

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.1783 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 813-822 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Gisela Michel ◽

Diana Greenfield ◽

Kate Absolom ◽

Christine Eiser ◽

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Psychological Variables

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Selected Landmark Studies in the Role of the Mesolimbic System

Journal of Cardiology Research Review & Reports ◽

10.47363/jcrrr/2021(2)144 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Prakul Suresh ◽

◽

Karan Patel ◽

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Mesolimbic System ◽

Present Understanding ◽

Highly Cited

The mesolimbic system has been demonstrated to have a major role in the perception of pain, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are poorly understood. In this paper, we review selected landmark studies that have contributed to our present understanding of the role of the mesolimbic system. The included studies outline the molecular mechanisms of the mesolimbic system's role in analgesia, pain relief, and feelings of decreased motivation and depression as a result of chronic pain. Because chronic pain is among the most highly-cited reasons for decreased quality of life, advancing our understanding of the function and mechanism of the mesolimbic system may be critical to improving the quality of life for millions of people around the globe.

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Pain Intensity Is Not Always Associated with Poorer Health Status: Exploring the Moderating Role of Spouse Personality

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2018/7927656 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carlos Suso-Ribera ◽

Michael J. L. Sullivan ◽

Santiago Suso-Vergara

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Health Status ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Relationship

Background. Past decades have seen a surge of studies investigating the role of spouses in chronic illness. The present study explored an interpersonal model of health-related quality of life in chronic pain settings. Spouse personality was tested as a moderator of pain intensity-to-health associations in patients with chronic pain. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study. Participants were 185 noncancer chronic pain patients and their spouses. Patients were mostly females (58.4%). Mean age was approximately 56 years for patients and spouses. Patients completed a measure of pain intensity, health-related quality of life, and personality. Spouses also reported on their personality characteristics. Spouse personality was used as the moderator in the relationship between patients’ pain intensity and health status. Patient personality was used as a covariate in the moderation analyses. Results. Spouse neuroticism moderated the relationship between pain intensity and physical health status, while spouse introversion moderated the pain-to-mental health association. Conclusions. Results support the idea that the relationship between a chronic stressor, namely, chronic pain, and health-related quality of life may be complex and contextually determined by spousal characteristics. Clinical implications are discussed in the context of couples.

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Managing female pelvic floor disorders: a medical device review and appraisal

Interface Focus ◽

10.1098/rsfs.2019.0014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 20190014 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shelby A. Powers ◽

Lindsey K. Burleson ◽

Johanna L. Hannan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Urinary Incontinence ◽

Pelvic Floor ◽

Pelvic Floor Disorders ◽

Pelvic Organ ◽

Tissue Level ◽

Female Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) will affect most women during their lifetime. Sequelae such as pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, chronic pain and dyspareunia significantly impact overall quality of life. Interventions to manage or eliminate symptoms from PFDs aim to restore support of the pelvic floor. Pessaries have been used to mechanically counteract PFDs for thousands of years, but do not offer a cure. By contrast, surgically implanted grafts or mesh offer patients a more permanent resolution but have been in wide use within the pelvis for less than 30 years. In this perspective review, we provide an overview of the main theories underpinning PFD pathogenesis and the animal models used to investigate it. We highlight the clinical outcomes of mesh and grafts before exploring studies performed to elucidate tissue level effects and bioengineering considerations. Considering recent turmoil surrounding transvaginal mesh, the role of pessaries, an impermanent method, is examined as a means to address patients with PFDs.

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