Research has established a significant relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and pain; however, very little research has examined the differential role of PTSD symptom clusters on pain outcomes. Purpose
(a) To confirm the most appropriate PTSD symptom factor structure for an orofacial pain population and (b) to test a model of prediction of pain outcomes with PTSD symptom clusters. Methods
The study was a cross-sectional, retrospective case series of 411 female patients with orofacial pain (mean 41.0 years, SD 13.1). A series of structural equation modeling analyses were conducted to examine five competing models of PTSD symptom clusters. Results
Two four-factor models of PTSD symptom clusters fit the data reasonably well, and differing PTSD symptom clusters predicted different components of pain. Conclusions
To increase predictive utility for pain and for a wide range of health disorders, researchers should examine the unique predictive power of PTSD symptom clusters rather than examining a one-factor model of PTSD symptoms.
- Chronic pain,
- Orofacial pain,
- Posttraumatic stress disorder,
- Factor analysis,
- Structural equation modeling
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/charlescarlson/54/