The relation between acceptance of pain and reduced pain intensity and disability among chronic pain patients

Aim and There is a relation between patient's levels of physical functioning and their acceptance of chronic pain. However, this relation has not been examined amongst Iranian chronic pain patients. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the relation between acceptance of chronic pain and physical disability. Methods and Materials: In a descriptive-correlational study, convenience sampling was used to select 245 chronic pain patients from pain clinics in Tehran, Iran during spring and summer of 2010. The participants completed the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ) and a demographic questionnaire. They also provided information about physical disability, pain intensity, and daily dysfunction. Data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation and multiple hierarchical regression models. There were significant relations between acceptance of pain and pain intensity and disability (P < 0.001). According to the regression model, acceptance of pain could predict a significant proportion of variance of disability scales (i.e. physical disability and daily dysfunction) (P < 0.0001). Therefore, it was a better predictor of disability compared to over pain intensity, gender, education, and pain duration. Chronic pain acceptance is an important factor in reducing the perceived disability in chronic pain patients. Therefore, acceptance-based treatment methods are helpful to decrease pain-related disability.