(PS1-79) Associations Between Pain Intensity, Pain Catastrophizing, and Insomnia Symptoms Among Veterans

Chronic pain, or recurrent pain lasting longer than three months, is a prevalent and impairing problem among veterans. Indeed, rates of chronic pain among former military personnel are nearly double the rates of those found in the general population. One often co-occuring and complicating comorbidity among veterans with chronic pain is insomnia, defined as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early. Despite this well-supported bi-directional association, guidelines for the treatment of chronic pain highlight the need for non-pharmacological approaches. Considering the subjective nature of pain, researchers have turned their attention to focus on more malleable constructs which may underlie the pain and sleep association including pain catastrophizing- the tendency to which one magnifies, ruminates, and experiences helplessness about their pain. Against this backdrop, the purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend prior work examining the relationship between pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and insomnia using an outpatient racially diverse sample of veterans with chronic pain. Veterans (N = 35; Mage = 57.51, SD = 12.06; 80% Male; 57% Black) presenting to a chronic pain clinic at a large southeastern VA hospital were asked to complete self-report assessments to assist with diagnostic clarification and treatment planning. The PEG, a 3-item self-report questionnaire was used to assess pain intensity and interference while the PCS, a 13-item self-report questionnaire, was used to assess pain catastrophizing. Further, the ISI, a 7-item self-report questionnaire, was used to assess symptoms of insomnia. A hierarchical regression analysis was run examining the relationships between pain catastrophizing and insomnia after controlling for pain intensity. Step 1 of the model, which included pain intensity, accounted for 28% of the variance in insomnia symptoms (p = .004). Step 2 of the model, which included pain catastrophizing, accounted for an additional 12% of variance in insomnia (p = .036). Notably, after controlling for pain intensity, pain catastrophizing was found to be positively and significantly associated with insomnia symptoms (β = .44, p = .036). Findings highlight the role of pain catastrophizing above and beyond pain intensity in predicting symptoms of insomnia, which could inform approaches to interventions addressing insomnia in those with chronic pain. Limitations include the small sample size and use of self-report questionnaires to assess all constructs of interest.