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Personality and personality disorders in chronic pain

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Abstract

Personality characteristics and disorders have long been noted in the chronic pain population. Clinicians and researchers alike will attest to the high rates of personality difficulties encountered in these individuals. Historically, it has been found that certain personality styles such as hypochondriasis and hysteria are common in chronic pain suffers. In addition, the prevalence of personality disorders (PDs) is significantly greater in the pain population than in the general population or in medical or psychiatric populations. A diathesis-stress model has been suggested to account for this finding and is discussed in this article, with implications for both treatment and research.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Putnam Hall-South Campus, 11794-8790, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    James N. Weisberg PhD

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Weisberg, J.N. Personality and personality disorders in chronic pain. Current Review of Pain 4, 60–70 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-000-0011-9

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