Psychological factors in chronic pain patients waiting for motor cortex stimulation

Aim of this study was to evaluate if neurosurgical motor-cortex stimulation produce variations in personality traits, as assessed by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), Clinical Depression Questionnaire (IPAT-CDQ) and Anxiety Scale Questionnaire (IPAT-ASQ) in functional chronic pain syndrome (CPS) subjects. Seven pharmacoresistent patients affected by CPS waiting for motor-cortex stimulation and a control group of six patients, admitted at the Neurosurgery Department, were considered in this study. Pre-Post assessment were performed for experimental group. Only pre-treatment assessments were performed in control group. Factorial and repeated measures Anovas were used for confrontations. In experimental group, compared to control group, Pre-treatment assessment showed high levels of Anxiety and pathological scores to Hs, D and Hy MMPI-2 scales. In the experimental group, Post-treatment showed a small decrease in the same scales. Notwithstanding the treatment seems produce slight variations on clinical scales, the personality pattern of chronic pain patients remains relatively stable.