Cognitive distortion and psychological distress in chronic low back pain.

Examined the association of cognitive distortion with 5 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales—Depression (D), Psychasthenia (Pt), Schizophrenia (Sc), Hypochondriasis (Hs), and Hysteria (H)—in 138 depressed, chronic low back pain patients (mean age 39.9 yrs). Ss completed a cognitive error questionnaire, the MMPI, a sickness impact profile, and daily pain diaries. Results indicate that cognitive distortion was associated with high scores on the D, Pt, and Sc scales but not the Hs and Hy scales. Thus, cognitive distortion is likely to be an important factor in general distress but not in somatization among back pain patients. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)