Volitional Action Control and Depression in Chronic Pain: Does Action versus State Orientation Moderate the Relations of Pain-Related Cognitions to Depression?

Abstract In this study, we examined the conditional indirect and direct relations of pain-related cognitions to depression. Subjective helplessness was included as presumably mediating catastrophizing thought suppression depression due motivational deficits. addition, moderating effects dispositional action versus state orientation were analyzed, whereby indicates volitional deficits in coping with distress . The study based on self-report data from 536 patients chronic non-specific low back pain at beginning inpatient rehabilitation. Moderated mediation analyses performed. catastrophizing- suppression-depression (partially) mediated by subjective helplessness; moderated failure-related orientation. Moreover, relation Results suggest that catastrophizing, suppression, do not lead unless associated self-regulatory inability (i.e., orientation). contrast, action-oriented more effectively self-regulate emotions, disengage rumination, distract thus better avoid debilitating negative Future research treatment may strongly focus role underlying learned pain.