Vulnerable Dispositional Traits and Chronic Pain: Predisposing but not Predetermining

Introduction Dispositional traits can be protective or contribute to increased vulnerability in individuals with chronic pain. This study aims to evaluate the predictive utility of two dispositional trait measures, affect balance style and multi-domain trait groups specific to clinical pain, psychosocial functioning, experimental pain, and health outcomes at two years in individuals with chronic knee pain. MethodsThe study is a prospective analysis of 168 community dwelling individuals aged 45-85 years old with knee pain with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Affect balance style and multi-domain trait groups were developed and tested using regression analysis and machine learning (Support Vector Machine). ResultsAt baseline, affect balance style and multi-domain trait groups were predictive of psychosocial and clinical pain measures with the multi-domain trait groups showing a greater range of association with clinical measures. At the two-year time point, both the affect balance style groups and the multi-domain trait groups were predictive of physical and psychosocial functioning while the multi-domain trait groups were also predictive of all clinical pain measures. ConclusionThe multi-domain trait classification is a stronger predictor than the previously investigated affect balance style specific to clinical pain and pain-related functioning at two-years. Interestingly, in contrast to expectations, individuals in the vulnerable trait groups showed more variability in dispositional trait status at the two-year time point compared to those in the more protective trait groups. Findings reiterate that a vulnerable trait may be predisposing but is not predetermining regarding pain-related experiences.