Study on the Interaction Between Psychological States and Caregiver's Responses on Pain in Patients Suffering From Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a major cause of disability, and given its negative impact on the functional, psychological, and social well-being of sufferers, it is crucial to identify the biopsychosocial factors that influence it. While biological and psychological factors have been extensively studied, the role of the patient's relational context has not been thoroughly investigated to date. The presence of pain affects both directly and indirectly the patient's family and social context, which could significantly influence the perception of pain itself. In particular, partners of chronic pain patients may experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and worry, and this may have an impact on couple satisfaction and the type of partner's responses with respect to the patient's pain manifestations. It is conceivable that the type of interaction between patient and partner is influenced by the intersection of the ways in which the patient expresses pain, such as by manifesting catastrophic experiences, with the type of responses provided by the partner, such as of criticism, distraction, or support. It can be hypothesized that both the partner's actual responses to the patient's manifestations of pain and the patient's satisfaction with these responses are important. This study therefore aims to understand the relationships between these factors. Specifically, it will assess whether attributions and catastrophizing behaviors of the patient influence pain intensity and interference over time through mediation by the responses given by the partner. It will also be assessed whether this mediation is moderated by the patient's satisfaction with the partner's responses.