Pain Catastrophizing Mediates the Association Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress in Chronic Pain Syndrome
Pain Practice September 1, 2020 Yael Conti, Jean‐Jacques Vatine, Sigal Levy et al.
Trait mindfulness is linked to lower depression and anxiety in pain patients, and this study examined whether pain catastrophizing explains that link. Among 48 subacute rehabilitation patients, 17 with chronic pain, catastrophizing mediated the association between mindfulness and both depression and anxiety. Moderated mediation showed this full mediation only in chronic pain patients, not in those with nonchronic pain. The authors suggest that mindful individuals engage in less catastrophic thinking, reducing distress, and that addressing catastrophizing and encouraging mindfulness may benefit chronic pain patients.