Catastrophizing Complicates Chronic Pain Tx : Helping patients shift their focus from fighting to accepting their pain is particularly tricky.

Physicians should also be aware of their own personal psychology when dealing with catastrophizing patients, because catastrophizing personalities are not confined to the patient world. Physicians who are catastrophizers may inadvertently increase a patient's perception of suffering. “Some of our research suggests that if you're a catastrophizer you see 30% more pain in these individuals,” he said.

The speakers did not declare any conflicts of interest.