Pain anxiety and rehabilitation outcomes after acquired brain injury

Brain Inj. 2021 Jan 5;35(1):32-40. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1859614. Epub 2020 Dec 21.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine pain anxiety after acquired brain injury (ABI) and its relationship to rehabilitation outcomes.Materials and Method: Participants consisted of 89 adults with an ABI participating in outpatient rehabilitation therapy. They completed a battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline along with surveys of mood, health-related self-efficacy, and pain anxiety. Separately, occupational therapists assessed basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs) as well as therapy engagement across treatment after the sixth session.Results: Individuals who reported high pain anxiety had fewer years of formal education, lower self-efficacy, and more emotional distress than those with low pain anxiety. Although Blacks were about half (56%) of the study sample, they comprised the majority (73.1%) of individuals in the high pain anxiety group. Pain anxiety was negatively related to therapy engagement. Moderation analysis using linear regression indicated that pain anxiety moderated the influence of self-efficacy on basic ADLs.Conclusions: Pain anxiety, particularly when high, is negatively associated with rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with ABI. Among those with high pain anxiety, health-related self-efficacy is an important resilience characteristic to improve functional outcomes. In rehabilitation therapy, pain anxiety provides a novel intervention target to enhance ABI recovery.

Keywords: Acquired Brain Injury; Pain Anxiety; functional Outcomes; self-Efficacy; therapy Engagement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Brain Injuries* / complications
  • Humans
  • Pain / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome