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Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective

Publication ,  Journal Article
Keefe, FJ; Lefebvre, JC; Smith, SJ; Geisser, ME; Robinson, ME; Riley, JL
Published in: Pain Forum
January 1, 1999

This Commentary addresses some common conceptual errors and methodological issues raised by the Focus article by Geisser, Robinson, and Riley. One conceptual error, the problem of confounding coping with outcome, is evident in their assertion that catastrophizing is not a form of coping, but rather a maladaptive pain belief. Catastrophizing clearly fits current definitions of coping, even though it may be associated with negative outcomes. A second conceptual error is the tendency to oversimplify the coping process that is evident in the tendency to divide coping strategies into dichotomous categories (eg, active vs passive, adaptive vs maladaptive). Methodological issues raised by this article include: (1) the need to recognize the strengths of existing pain co ping instruments (eg, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire), and (2) the utility of new and alternative coping measures. This Commentary concludes with a discussion of important directions for future research on pain coping.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Pain Forum

ISSN

1058-9139

Publication Date

January 1, 1999

Volume

8

Issue

4

Start / End Page

176 / 180
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Keefe, F. J., Lefebvre, J. C., Smith, S. J., Geisser, M. E., Robinson, M. E., & Riley, J. L. (1999). Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective. Pain Forum, 8(4), 176–180.
Keefe, F. J., J. C. Lefebvre, S. J. Smith, M. E. Geisser, M. E. Robinson, and J. L. Riley. “Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective.” Pain Forum 8, no. 4 (January 1, 1999): 176–80.
Keefe FJ, Lefebvre JC, Smith SJ, Geisser ME, Robinson ME, Riley JL. Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective. Pain Forum. 1999 Jan 1;8(4):176–80.
Keefe, F. J., et al. “Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective.” Pain Forum, vol. 8, no. 4, Jan. 1999, pp. 176–80.
Keefe FJ, Lefebvre JC, Smith SJ, Geisser ME, Robinson ME, Riley JL. Catastrophizing research: Avoiding conceptual errors and maintaining a balanced perspective. Pain Forum. 1999 Jan 1;8(4):176–180.

Published In

Pain Forum

ISSN

1058-9139

Publication Date

January 1, 1999

Volume

8

Issue

4

Start / End Page

176 / 180