Abstract

Objective: Individuals experiencing chronic pain have an elevated risk of psychological distress during a pandemic. This study aimed to examine the correlation between type D personality traits, apprehension regarding diseases and viruses, and anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain throughout the pandemic period.

Method: The study included 115 patients with chronic pain who presented to the physical therapy outpatient clinic of our hospital. Data were collected from the patients using five instruments: Socio-demographic data form, visual analog scale, type D personality scale, fear of illness and virus evaluation scale (FIVE), Beck depression inventory, and Beck anxiety inventory. Participants were divided into two groups based on their type D personality, and data from the two scales were compared.

Results: Type D personality traits were identified in 36 patients with chronic pain included in the study. Although demographic characteristics showed no disparities between groups, individuals exhibiting type D personality traits displayed elevated scores in FIVE total, illness, and contamination fear, as well as anxiety and depression, compared with those without type D personality (p=0.013, p=0.027, p=0.032, p=0.009, and p=0.032, respectively).

Conclusion: In patients with chronic pain, type D personality traits are associated with increased anxiety and depression along with fear of Coronavirus disease-2019-related illness and virus.