Patterns of normal personality structure among chronic pain patients

Abstract

Fifty-nine chronic pain patients satisfying one of four previously identified pain group classifications were evaluated using the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI), a standardized measure of normal adult personality structure. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) pain subgroups differed with respect to level of NEO-PI Neuroticism. In particular, emotionally overwhelmed pain patients as defined by multiple MMPI scale elevations had higher NEO-PI Neuroticism scores. Post hoc analyses revealed higher levels of depression, anxiety, vulnerability, and hostility in emotionally overwhelmed subjects. None of the remaining groups differed from each other on NEO-PI Neuroticism. Additionally, none of the other NEO-PI domains discriminated pain subgroups. NEO-PI profiles for pain patients (except for Neuroticism in emotionally overwhelmed patients) yielded t scores in the average range, suggesting that chronic pain patients present with a relatively normal underlying personality structure.