Crenças sobre a doença, morbilidade psicológica e dimensões da dor em doentes com dor crónica

Abstract

This study aims to verify the existence of relationships between chronic pain, the illness perceptions and psychological morbidity by seeking to explain the existence of psychological morbidity in patients with chronic pain. This study is a analytic crosssectional observational with a sample of two hundred patients with chronic pain. The instruments administered included a socio-demographic questionnaire, versions translated from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Illness Perception Questionnaire - Brief (IPQ-B). The results found significant correlations were observed between all scales of belief and intensity of pain and the scales of anxiety and depression. From a Multiple Linear Regression, it was found that the symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain are better explained by illness perceptions rather than the intensity of pain. In conclusion, the illness perceptions are of great importance for the understanding of chronic pain and the existence of psychological morbidity meaning that dealing with the belief of illness is essential to improve physical and mental health.

Date of Award	13 Feb 2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora Cunha Veiga Costa (Supervisor)