Pain Coping Strategies Among Adult Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease

Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate how individuals with lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) cope with pain and its association with their affective state, especially in relation to the symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study also examined whether pain intensity and duration are associated with these affective symptoms and the coping strategies used.

Methods

The study included 210 patients with chronic pain due to DDD, one day before scheduled surgery. Patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale or Beck Depression Inventory-II with Beck Anxiety Inventory (depending on the research project), the Visual Analog Scale for pain, and the Polish adaptation of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire.