The exacerbation and maintenance of chronic pain are linked to spousal criticism/hostility, yet the nature of such links is poorly understood. Research in this area is largely correlational, leaving causal directions indeterminate, and theoretical models do not specify mechanisms through which spouse criticism/hostility and patient pain are related. We propose that links between spousal criticism/hostility and patient adjustment to chronic low back pain (CLBP) may be illuminated through a synthesis of an Expressed Emotion (EE) model, in which spousal criticism of how the patient is managing their condition and spousal criticism/hostility toward the patient undermine patient adjustment, and an interpersonal model, in which persistent and exaggerated signs of poor adjustment by patients elicit critical/hostile reactions from patients'spouses. We propose that chronic pain symptoms elicit negative spouse responses and that such responses then worsen and maintain symptoms;a vicious spiral, which leads to poor adjustment. Because the cause of CLBP is often poorly understood by patient and spouse, unlike disease-related pain conditions (eg, cancer), CLBP provides a particularly appropriate model in which to test links between spouse and patient behaviors. Studies 1a and 1b will test the validity of causal pathways linking spousal criticism/hostility with patient behavior and mood described by EE and interpersonal models. Both studies will test 84 CLBP patients and spouses. In Study 1a, couples will engage in 2 marital discussions (neutral;conflictual), and then patients will undergo a Structured Pain Behavior task (SPBT) while the spouse observes. In Study 1b, spouses will observe patients undergo 2 activity tasks (neutral;SPBT), and then couples will engage in a conflictual marital discussion. If the 2 models explain links between spousal criticism and patient adjustment, then the relation between initial spouse criticism during the conflictual discussion will predict later patient pain behavior during the SPBT, and initial patient pain behavior during the SPBT will predict degree of later spouse criticism during the conflictual discussion. Study 2 will also evaluate the validity of the EE and interpersonal models, but a daily diary method will be used (N=84 patients and spouses). Patients and spouses will be given Personal Data Assistants (PDAs). For 14 days they will be prompted 5 times/day to respond to questions about their own and their spouse's mood and behavior, and contacts with their spouse during the preceding interval. Multilevel modeling of concurrent and lagged associations will allow testing within-spouse individual differences and between- spouse directionality of criticism and patient adjustment. Support for the spiral would be indicated by lagged within-dyad associations between patient pain behavior at Time 2 and spouse criticism at Time 3 among dyads who recorded high levels of conflict at Time 1. CLBP is a common and disabling condition. Learning more about links between spousal criticism/hostility and patient adjustment will provide information that could lead to development of novel, couples-based interventions to reduce pain and disability in this population. Public Health Relevance Paragraph: Exacerbation and maintenance of chronic pain are linked to spousal criticism and hostility, yet the nature of such links is poorly understood. We propose that the nature of the relationships between spousal criticism/hostility and patient adjustment to chronic low back pain (CLBP) may be illuminated through a synthesis of an Expressed Emotion (EE) model (spousal criticism of the patient undermines patient adjustment), and an interpersonal model (persistent signs of poor adjustment by patients elicit critical reactions from spouses). With 3 studies, we intend to learn more about links between spousal criticism/hostility and patient adjustment in order to could encourage development of clinical interventions and productive translational efforts targeting this relatively neglected area.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NR010777-04
Application #
8119521
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine, Interventions and Outcomes Study Section (BMIO)
Program Officer
Marden, Susan F
Project Start
2008-07-15
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2011-06-02
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$410,419
Indirect Cost
Name
Rush University Medical Center
Department
Other Clinical Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068610245
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Gerhart, James I; Burns, John W; Bruehl, Stephen et al. (2018) Variability in negative emotions among individuals with chronic low back pain: relationships with pain and function. Pain 159:342-350
Gerhart, James I; Burns, John W; Post, Kristina M et al. (2017) Relationships Between Sleep Quality and Pain-Related Factors for People with Chronic Low Back Pain: Tests of Reciprocal and Time of Day Effects. Ann Behav Med 51:365-375
Burns, John W; Gerhart, James I; Bruehl, Stephen et al. (2016) Anger arousal and behavioral anger regulation in everyday life among people with chronic low back pain: Relationships with spouse responses and negative affect. Health Psychol 35:29-40
Burns, John W; Gerhart, James I; Bruehl, Stephen et al. (2015) Anger arousal and behavioral anger regulation in everyday life among patients with chronic low back pain: Relationships to patient pain and function. Health Psychol 34:547-55
Burns, John W; Gerhart, James I; Post, Kristina M et al. (2015) The Communal Coping Model of Pain Catastrophizing in Daily Life: A Within-Couples Daily Diary Study. J Pain 16:1163-75
Burns, John W; Peterson, Kristina M; Smith, David A et al. (2013) Temporal associations between spouse criticism/hostility and pain among patients with chronic pain: a within-couple daily diary study. Pain 154:2715-21
Keefe, Francis J; Wren, Anava A (2013) Optimism and pain: a positive move forward. Pain 154:7-8
Keefe, Francis J; Huling, Dane A; Coggins, Michael J et al. (2012) Virtual reality for persistent pain: a new direction for behavioral pain management. Pain 153:2163-6
Abernethy, Amy P; Wheeler, Jane L; Courtney, Paul K et al. (2011) Supporting implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions: the role of data liquidity in facilitating translational behavioral medicine. Transl Behav Med 1:45-52
Burns, John W; Quartana, Phillip; Bruehl, Stephen (2011) Anger suppression and subsequent pain behaviors among chronic low back pain patients: moderating effects of anger regulation style. Ann Behav Med 42:42-54

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